Unionist councillors in Craigavon have baulked over a suggestion that a portrait of Queen Elizabeth be placed in storage.
A proposal to hang a portrait of King Charles in the mezzanine area of Craigavon Civic Centre was agreed at an Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council committee meeting this week.
The local authority has received a free portrait of King Charles, and a council report states that as the location for the hanging of the previous portrait of the King’s late mother had been the subject of an equality impact assessment, the new portrait should replace it in the mezzanine area.
“Party leaders were also content that the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II goes into storage,” the report stated.
However, four months on from the agreement, concerns over the fate of the Queen’s portrait have been raised.
Craigavon UUP councillor Kate Evans told the committee meeting: “I don’t have any issues with the portrait...being replaced with the King, but I do have an issue with the Queen being placed in storage.
“She was the longest-serving monarch, and I think we could maybe find a better place to put it.”
She proposed the portrait be moved for display at Palace Demesne in Armagh.
However, a council officer said displaying the old portrait elsewhere would require another equality impact assessment.
“It couldn’t be located in an area which is frequented by staff or the public, so it couldn’t be in a reception area or work area,” the officer said.
“We have looked at some locations. There weren’t many of them, but if that’s the proposal you want us to look at, that’s something we can do and I can bring another report back.”
DUP Alderman Mark Baxter said: “I wouldn’t want to see that portrait going into storage. I think it’s important to have the serving monarch up as quickly as possible, but in supporting this, I wouldn’t want it delaying this (the Queen’s portrait being displayed elsewhere) any further.”
The council’s chief executive, Roger Wilson, said: “There is no decision at this time that has been screened or equality-proofed in terms of the former monarch.
“We can certainly move ahead in terms of putting the King’s portrait up, but then any decision around the Queen’s portrait would then be subject to a whole separate decision-making process.”
A proposal by Ms Evans to find a new location was agreed.
