Belfast city councillors, with the exception of the DUP, have voted to stop the Union flag flying from City Hall to mark the birthday of Britain's Prince Andrew.
The vote comes as the UK royal, also known as the Duke of York, is facing a civil sexual assault case in the US. He strongly denies the allegations.
SDLP, Sinn Féin and Alliance councillors backed a motion at the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee today to stop the annual marking of Andrew's birthday in the city.
But DUP councillors voted against it, saying the outcome of the trial should be awaited.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson confirmed their councillors backed the move, adding that to fly a flag at City Hall for Andrew's birthday "would be totally inappropriate".
The decision is to be ratified at the next full meeting of the council which will come on 1 February, ahead of Andrew's birthday on 19 February.
The Duke of York stopped using his HRH [His Royal Highness] style and was stripped of his prestigious honorary military roles by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, earlier this month.
The issue of the flying of the Union flag from City Hall has been controversial in the past, with a decision in 2012 by councillors to limit the number of days it is flown from all year round to designated days sparking protests and disorder.
SDLP councillor Donal Lyons, who proposed the motion, expressed disappointment that the DUP did not support it.
He said he suggested working with unionist councillors to find an alternative day to fly the flag to retain the total number of designated days that it is flown from City Hall.
The Alliance Party proposed 1 July as an alternative date, which is a date marked by Orange Order marches. That is set to be considered by the committee.
