Duchess of York posts birthday message to Prince Andrew
The bells rang at Westminster Abbey but councils were told they didn't have to fly flags for the celebration.
Wednesday 19 February 2020 13:28, UK
The Duchess of York wished Prince Andrew a happy 60th birthday after it was confirmed the bells would ring at Westminster Abbey to mark the occasion.
Sarah Ferguson shared a black and white image of the Duke of York gazing out of a window for the celebration on Wednesday.
Prince Andrew, who was married to the duchess until their divorce in the mid-90s, is seen relaxing with two dogs in the photo which was posted on Twitter.
The message was tweeted out around an hour after Buckingham Palace wished the Duke of York a happy birthday on the social media site.
The posts came after it was confirmed Westminster Abbey would maintain its tradition of ringing its bells to mark the occasion.
Councils have been told they no longer have to fly flags for his birthday.
The duke is reportedly expected to celebrate with the Duchess of York, their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and friends at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor Great Park.
Andrew gave up royal duties for the foreseeable future last November following a disastrous Newsnight appearance about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The duke met Epstein in 1999 after his marriage to Sarah broke up.
While unanswered questions kept coming about Andrew's relationship with the sex offender, the Duke of York was seen taking time out among Europe's moneyed elite with the duchess in Sotogrande in December last year.
According to locals, the pair are regulars in that part of southern Spain and Sarah is a familiar face at the Santa Maria polo club.
Sarah's birthday message read in full on Wednesday: "Happy 60th birthday to Andrew."
A tweet from the Royal Family's official account said: "On this day in 1960, Prince Andrew was born at Buckingham Palace, the first child born to a reigning monarch for 103 years.
"Happy Birthday to The Duke of York."
The Abbey bells chimed in central London at 1pm.
A spokesperson for the Abbey said: "Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar answerable to the Sovereign and the bells are rung for the birthdays of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; their children; and TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children."
It came after there appeared to be confusion earlier this month over whether local authorities would be expected to fly the Union flag to mark the duke's birthday.
Critics described the celebration as "crass and offensive", which led Downing Street to say it was looking into the matter.
A DCMS spokesman said: "Following the decision by the Duke of York to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, there is no longer a requirement for UK government buildings to fly the Union flag on Wednesday February 19."
Andrew was heavily criticised following the Newsnight interview which probed his relationship with Epstein and claims the billionaire pressured Virginia Roberts Giuffre, then 17, to have sex with Prince Andrew - allegations he strenuously denies.
Last month prosecutors in America claimed that the prince had provided "zero co-operation" to an inquiry into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
US attorney Geoffrey Berman said prosecutors and the FBI had contacted his lawyers but had received no reply.
Buckingham Palace said the prince's legal team was dealing with the issue.
The palace wouldn't comment on how the Duke of York would be spending his birthday, simply saying it was a private occasion.
Earlier this month they confirmed that he had asked to defer a military promotion he would have received to mark his birthday.
He was due to be promoted to Admiral on his 60th birthday, in line with a longstanding policy that sees senior royals treated as serving military members.
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But a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the duke had requested to forgo the planned promotion until he is able to fully resume royal duties.
"By convention, the Duke of York would be in line for military promotion on his 60th birthday," the spokeswoman said.
"Following the decision by His Royal Highness to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, the Duke of York has asked the Ministry of Defence if this promotion might be deferred until such time that His Royal Highness returns to public duty."