Downing Street removes emoji from Instagram post after embarrassing mistake

The culture of Northern Ireland was celebrated on Sunday at a reception in 10 Downing Street.

Businesses from across the country were given the chance to showcase the best of the country’s finest exports, with photos and a caption posted to Instagram.

But you’d be forgiven for missing a hasty edit made by 10 Downing Street after the post had been published.

The original post showed an emoji of the tricolour flag of the Republic of Ireland, an obvious mistake considering it was the culture of Northern Ireland – not the Republic – being celebrated.

The tricolour has no official status in Northern Ireland, although it is used by many Irish nationalists.

The second post reads exactly the same as the first post, and even features the same photo.

It reads: ‘Yesterday we celebrated the culture of Northern Ireland with a reception in Downing Street.

‘Businesses from across Northern Ireland arrived to showcase some of the best produce the country has to offer.’

Except this time after the word ‘offer’ the Republic of Ireland flag is mysteriously gone.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said it shows Westminster did not ‘understand us or know us’.

He has used the post to reiterate his support for a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

But people across social media were quick to spot the mistake and immediately started cracking jokes.

Brian Flanagan tweeted: ‘Did anyone in No 10 flag the error?’

Meanwhile Ben Sheppard wrote: ‘Thanks for flagging that up.’

And mvrander added: ‘That can’t be real can it?’