Vandal Spray Paints Over Queen's Portrait

Men's rights group says one of its members may be responsible
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2013 12:02 PM CDT
Vandal Spray Paints Over Queen's Portrait
This is an undated handout photo shows the painting, entitled 'The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2012,' in its pre-grafitti state.   (AP Photo / Ralph Heimans / Colin White/Max C/PA)

God, it seems, is not interested in saving the Queen's portraiture. Westminster Abbey pulled its painting of Elizabeth II (that's the current queen for you non-royal fans) off the wall today, after a visitor defaced it with turquoise spray paint around lunchtime, the BBC reports. A 41-year-old man was detained on suspicion of doing the deed.

Fathers4Justice, which fights to get divorced dads access to their kids, says the man was one of their members, though it says it didn't endorse this particular act. "It's Father's Day on Sunday—it's a very emotional time and this protest was a desperate plea for help," the group said in a statement. Westminster says it will try to restore the painting, which was created for her highness to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. (More portrait stories.)

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