Donald Trump has been forced into applying for planning permission to fly a flag featuring the Scottish saltire at his north-east resort.
The billionaire tycoon and US presidential candidate had erected two 80ft flagpoles bearing the national emblem outside his clubhouse on the Menie Estate at Trump International Golf Links last year.
However Aberdeenshire Council ordered the club to remove the structures, as they were erected without planning permission.
Now Trump International has been forced to apply for consent for one of the flagpoles, with another planning application believed to be in the works for the second.
The organisation had applied for permission to put up different flagpoles, but this was rejected by planners because they were too high and would be seen for miles.
Following complaints about the height of the poles that were eventually installed, officials were sent to inspect the site, and asked Trump to submit a retrospective application.
However it missed the deadline for retrospective permission on December 4.
Robert Gray, the council’s head of planning, said: “In all cases where unauthorised development has been identified the planning authority must take into consideration whether the development is, in principle, acceptable in planning terms and can therefore be addressed by way of a retrospective planning application.
“The planning authority is obliged to consider each planning application on its own merits.
“There are no legislative or regulatory powers which allow for punitive action to be taken based on the number of retrospective applications that any one site or applicant may have submitted in the past.”
Previously, Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said: “We’re a five-star international resort – I cannot believe that us proudly flying a couple of Saltire flags in the middle of our golf property could be so objectionable.
“Given the proliferation of enormous wind turbines blighting our landscape there is something seriously wrong with our planning system if the council takes issue with a couple of flags.”