Man charged over defaced Queen painting
The painting went on display last month in the abbey's Chapter House
A man arrested for defacing a painting of the Queen at Westminster Abbey has been charged.
Tim Haries, 41, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, will appear in custody at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.The electrician is charged with criminal damage over £5,000.
The oil painting on canvas by Ralph Heimans, which went on display in the Chapter House in May, was damaged with spray paint on Thursday.
It was completed last year for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and depicts the Queen in state dress.
The incident came 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.
Palace sitting The oil painting, entitled The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has been taken off public display as a result of the damage.
The painting measures 9ft by 11ft and depicts the monarch in the Sacrarium of Westminster Abbey, also known as the Coronation Theatre.
It was shown publicly for the first time in September at Australia's National Portrait Gallery in Canberra before being moved to London.
The Australian-born artist, who is based in London, had a sitting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in March last year.
Police were called to the abbey just after midday on Thursday after security guards detained a man.
A spokesman for Mr Heimans said the artist was "aware of the incident" but would not be commenting further.
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