BELFAST City Council will not fly the union flag at City Hall to mark Prince Andrew's birthday this month following an agreement by councillors.
At the monthly meeting of the council last night, members agreed a proposal to remove February 19 from the list of designated days the flag can fly at Belfast City Hall.
The move comes as Prince Andrew faces potential civil action in the US for allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.
The prince is accused by Virginia Giauffre of assaulting her when she was a teenager. Ms Giauffre alleges she was trafficked by late convicted sex offender and former friend of Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein.
At a meeting of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee last month, a proposal by the SDLP's Donal Lyons not to fly the flag on the upcoming 62nd birthday of the royal was passed despite six DUP councillor voting against it.
At that meeting, Councillor Lyons had suggested he would welcome February 19 being switched to another date so that the north maintains it's full designated days when the flag can be flown from government buildings.
Last night saw the DUP back a proposal put forward by Alliance Councillor Nuala McAllister to fly the flag instead on July 1 to mark the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 during World War One.
The DUP's Brian Kingston, who seconded the proposal, said his party had sought assurances that the replacement day would be a permanent arrangement.
"We make no apology for defending the number of designated flag days," he told members.
"We will oppose any attempt to reduce these days by parties who don't want the flag to be flown at all in Belfast City Hall."
Speaking of the new July 1 designated day, he added: "It's a date seared into the consciousness of Ulster men and women everywhere."
Independent unionist John Kyle said of the decision: "In the circumstances I think it's a wise move."
The former PUP councillor added: "We are following the example of the Queen, who has relieved Andrew of his duties and royal titles."
Welcoming the decision, Donal Lyons said: "When I made this proposal initially, I was very clear that this wasn't about the number of designated days. It wasn't necessarily in and of itself about the flag, and it certainly wasn't about the issue of identity, be that British or Irish, This is about the allegations that are facing Prince Andrew, the severity of them, and the message that we send to women and girls in our city."