Queen Elizabeth portrait back at Westminster

The portrait of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has been put back out on display at Westminster Abbey.

Ralph Heimans’ official painting of the monarch – which was specially commissioned for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations – has been placed back in its original location after it was defaced by a visitor brandishing a can of spray paint in May.

Ralph was over the moon to see the painting back ”where it belongs”.

He said: ”I am thrilled that the painting has been restored in good time and that it can be returned to public display as intended.

”Westminster Abbey feels like the natural home for my portrait and I’m glad to see it back where it belongs in this remarkable setting.”

Tim Haries, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is due to appear at the crown court in September after being charged for causing the £5,000 of criminal damage on the portrait.

The 41-year-old man is a member of Fathers4Justice – also known as F4J – but the organization is adamant the attack wasn’t an official protest.

In a post on their Facebook page, which was accompanied by a picture of a man they claim is Tim, Fathers4Justice said in May: ”F4J STATEMENT REF PROTEST IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. We understand that a desperate father belonging to Fathers4Justice has attempted to write the word ‘help’ on a portrait of the queen in Westminster Abbey at lunchtime.

”The father is dad of two Tim Haries from Doncaster (see picture) who was trying to petition the queen for help before Father’s Day on Sunday. (sic)”