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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 spray paint, an abbey spokesman has said. | |
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. | |
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. | |
It was completed last year for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. | |
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. |