The Last Night of the Proms has been swamped in controversy yet again after a sea of EU flags were spotted being flown by event-goers – despite imposing a ban on “protest flags” ahead of time.
Fewer than 20 minutes into the BBC coverage of the classical music extravaganza, the crowd was already awash with the bloc’s blue and yellow starry banners.
The controversial pennants could be seen being raised by members of of the Royal Albert Hall’s standing section throughout the last night’s starting performances as they were broadcast live – while other attendees could be seen sporting EU berets in the crowd.
In the wake of Brexit, EU flags have become a regular fixture at the climax of the Proms, with so-called “Prommers” waving the symbols to make their allegiances known.
EU flags peppered the standing section at the Royal Albert Hall
BBC
Audience-goers could be seen sporting berets too
BBC
And last month, the Albert Hall had sternly informed ticket-holders that any flags “related to protest, hatred, or advertising” would not be allowed into the historic venue.
Then, on Friday, pro-EU campaign group “Thank EU for the Music” announced it had prepared a payload of 6,000 free flags to be handed out to event-goers.
Though the group insisted the flags were “not a protest”, they admitted they were intended to show “support and solidarity with the musicians and performers who have been adversely impacted by Brexit”.
They detailed how “the handing out of the free flags has been an annual tradition every year since the Brexit referendum in 2016”.
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Thank EU for the Music has prepared a payload of 6,000 EU flags
BRUCE TANNER
They also said they “want this year’s flag-waving at the Proms to act as a visual and urgent reminder to all that progress needs be made” on the issue.
The campaigners’ statement veered further into politics, saying they were “encouraged” by Labour’s so-called European “relations reset” – but blamed the “right wing” for being “determined to undermine” the music industry by criticising the EU flags.
Despite the EU furore, the flag ban has been seen by many as a move to try and crack down on Palestinian or Hamas-related banners.
The Royal Albert Hall’s guidance details how “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”.
EU and EU member state flags have been seen at the Royal Albert Hall
BRUCE TANNER
It adds that “some flags will not be allowed in the auditorium, including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, or hatred”.
But it’s not just flags which have come under fire at the Proms this year – just weeks ago, BBC host Katie Derham sparked outrage by labelling Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory “incredibly problematic”.
The anthems, traditionally sung as the Proms reaches its grand finale, had their lyrics written in “a fit of patriotic fervour after Britain’s victory in the Boer War” – which Derham said were “of their time, and, yes, also incredibly problematic”, writing in the Radio Times.
The Proms presenter and one-time Strictly contestant claimed the pair of patriotic anthems “will delight and enrage large swathes of the population in equal measure” – but admitted they were “classical bangers”.
