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Queen's portrait defaced in Abbey Queen's portrait defaced with spray paint in Westminster Abbey
(35 minutes later)
A portrait of the Queen in Westminster Abbey has been defaced with paint, an Abbey spokesman has said. A portrait of the Queen in Westminster Abbey has been defaced with spray paint, an abbey spokesman has said.
The painting, by artist Ralph Heimans, had been on display in the Chapter House part of the Abbey. A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after being detained by security guards at the abbey, Scotland Yard said.
It was unveiled last year for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The painting by Ralph Heimans went on display in the Chapter House section in May and depicts the Queen in state dress in the Abbey's Sacrarium.
The incident comes nine days after the monarch and other members of the royal family attended a service at the Abbey marking the 60th anniversary of her Coronation. It was completed last year for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
An Abbey spokesman said: "In an incident at lunchtime today, a visitor to the Abbey sprayed paint on the Ralph Heimans portrait of the Queen presently on display in the Chapter House. The incident comes nine days after the monarch and other members of the royal family attended a service at the abbey marking the 60th anniversary of her Coronation.
A spokesman for the abbey said: "In an incident at lunchtime today, a visitor to the abbey sprayed paint on the Ralph Heimans portrait of the Queen presently on display in the Chapter House.
"Until work can be done to remedy the damage it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view.""Until work can be done to remedy the damage it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view."
Buckingham Palace will be not making any comment on the incident.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the abbey at about 12:30 BST and the arrested man is in custody at central London police station.
'Imagined scene'
The picture was painted by the London-based Australian-born artist after a sitting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in March last year.
The work entitled The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II measures 9ft by 11ft.
It was officially unveiled in London in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee and had been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra until March.
Westminster Abbey's website says the painting is an "imagined scene set at night... showing The Queen in a moment of solitary reflection and is an exceptional interpretation of the intricate mosaic patterns of the 13th century Cosmati pavement."
It shows the Queen wearing state dress, including the crimson velvet Robe of State, which she wore to her Coronation on 2 June 1953.
The work, purchased for the abbey by Lord and Lady Harris of Peckham, was supposed to remain on public display until September.
Speaking last month, Heimans said: "I could not have imagined a more fitting home for my portrait of the Queen than Westminster Abbey, the beauty of which was a great source of inspiration in the conception of the work.
"I am deeply honoured by this acquisition and feel that the significance of the portrait's narrative will have its strongest resonance in this remarkable setting."
A spokeswoman for the artist has told the BBC she is still trying to bring Ralph Heimans "up to date" with what has happened to his portrait.