Any excuse to have a bit of a royal flutter

The flag-flying protocol for Lincoln and the county has been revealed - an unusual mix of saints days, forces memorials and the birthdays of minor royals.

While the City of Lincoln Council choose a mix of royal, military and religious occasions on which to fly a variety of flags, their county counterparts follow a list produced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

So yesterday, unlike Armed Forces Day on June 27 when no special flag was flown, the council marked the birthday of the Queen's sons wife – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Debbie Cook, head of democratic services at the council, said: "Lincolnshire County Council has a flag flying protocol, in which it lists days that the Union Flag should be hoisted from County Offices.

"This is done in accordance with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

"And as it was the 17 July and that is the birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall, the Union Flag was flying from the building."

Brian Furneaux, secretary of the Royal British Legion's City of Lincoln branch, was surprised to learn the county council marked the birth of Prince Charles's unpopular second wife but not the military who are such a major part of county life.

"Normally you would think that the city and the county would be together on this sort of thing," he said.

"It would be interesting to find out why the county council doesn't fly a flag for armed forces day."

For more on flags, see Saturday's Echo.