Queen Elizabeth’s portrait defaced at Westminster Abbey

A portrait of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, which was part of a special display at Westminster Abbey, was taken down after being defaced with paint today, the Abbey said.

The painting, by Australian-born London-based artist Ralph Heimans, had been on display to mark the 60 years since the queen’s coronation in 1953.

“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,” an Abbey spokesman said.

“Until work can be done to remedy the damage it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view.”

No further details of the incident were immediately available.

Reuters