A UK MP has questioned why Bermuda’s flag was taken down from London’s Parliament Square days before Remembrance Day.

Andrew Rosindell, the chairman of the British Overseas Territories All Party Parliamentary Group, said in a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron flags for Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies were flown during a recent state visit, but were removed in advance of the national remembrance ceremony.

In the November 13 letter, Mr Rosindell wrote: “One might have expected the flags representing some of Her Majesty’s most loyal subjects to remain flying over the weekend of Remembrance Sunday, as tens of thousands of people gathered to attend and take part in the national ceremony of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, in the presence of The Queen.

“However on Friday, I was shocked and disappointed to see that all of the flags had been removed, leaving twenty-one empty flag poles on display in Parliament Square on Remembrance Sunday.”

The Conservative Party MP questioned why the “ill-judged” decision had been made, and asked the Prime Minister to assure the public that the incident will not be repeated.

“To have allowed the flags to continue to fly until after November 11 would have honoured the service of our fellow Britons whom joined with us from all the territories and dependencies to fight with great spirit and fervour for King and/or Queen and Country in all wars and conflicts during the past century,” he wrote.

“I am exceptionally saddened that this decision was taken and believe that Her Majesty’s Government should offer an explanation as to how this sorry incident occurred. There must surely be no repeat of this episode in years to come.”

Mr Rosindell also noted that despite the service and sacrifice of Overseas Territories citizens in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, representatives of the territories and dependencies have not been able to lay their own wreaths at the Cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

He asked for that issue to be reconsidered, writing: “It must surely be right that they should be allowed to lay their own wreaths at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in memory of their own and all servicemen who have fought and died in the name of the Crown.”

Governor George Fergusson said yesterday that he did not know why the flags were taken down before Remembrance Sunday, but he was pleased they have been flying for state occasions such as the Opening of Parliament and state visits — a practice which has been introduced in the last year.

“I am sure that the list of occasions will be debated further,” he said. “I enjoyed this year also seeing on television the Chancellor of the Exchequer — representing the Foreign Secretary, who was abroad — laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the Overseas Territories.

“It was made of leaves from Territory plants, including the Bermuda juniper — or cedar — and the Bermuda snowberry.”