EU flags were confiscated from audience members at the Last Night of the Proms.
The Royal Albert Hall announced last month that flags would be banned from the event “including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, hatred” from the Proms finale.
However, The Telegraph reported on confusion from staff regarding the policy, with some staff removing flags from attendees on Saturday.
Several EU flags were taken from concert-goers upon entrance to the venue, while others were admitted still holding them.
Even Union flag holders concerned, who worried their flags would also be confiscated. The confusion comes on the last night of the event, where it is traditional to wave flags.
Guidance released last month stated: “Flags are permitted at the Proms and are traditionally part of the Last Night celebrations provided they do not interfere with the smooth running of the concert.
It added that “some flags will not be allowed in the auditorium, including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, hatred”.
At the venue last night, staff had been given guidance specifying that “all national flags” would be allowed inside, including EU flags. However, this was contradicted by the behaviour of some security guards who were seen denying entry to individuals carrying EU flags.
However, the attendee was permitted to keep the flag and wait in the cafe instead.
During the Last Night of the Prom, the auditorium is usually full of Union Jacks. However, the venue’s ban on certain flags came after public concern over the increasing number of concert-goers with EU flags on the Last Night.
On Friday, pro-EU group Thank EU distributed EU flags outside the venue, which may explain the venue’s change in policy.
At one point, two security guards were seen confiscating EU flags from multiple attendees entering the venue. A clear plastic box containing the removed EU flags could be seen beside their table.
These flags were potentially from people carrying “two or more” EU flags, reports The Telepgraph.
