A portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth that had been displayed by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has found a new home following unionist fears it would be placed in storage.
Concerns over the portrait that had once hung in Craigavon Civic Centre were raised in September when the council received a free new portrait of King Charles to display in the building’s mezzanine area.
A council report from last year shows there had initially been agreement by parties in the council to place the portrait of the late Queen, who died in September 2022, in a storage area.
However, some unionist councillors took issue with this plan.
Speaking at a committee meeting last September, UUP Craigavon councillor Kate Evans said: “I don’t have any issues with the portrait of the Queen 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, than put it in storage. I would propose that we possibly move it to the Palace (Demesne in Armagh) instead.”
The councils legal, governance and monitoring officer, Kate McCusker, said at this month’s Governance, Resources & Strategy Committee meeting that she had identified two possible locations – the Primate’s Chapel in Armagh’ Archbishop’s Palace and Armagh County Museum.
“One option is Primate’s Chapel in Armagh. This is a small chapel which is located next to the Palace,” she said.
“It’s where the late Queen conferred city status on Armagh in 1995, and a plaque was erected in the entrance to the chapel to record this event. The portrait could be erected above that plaque.”
Councillor Evans proposed going along with the Primate’s Palace, which was seconded by UUP councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Kyle Savage, who said: “I think it’s very fitting that the portrait of our late Queen will be where she conferred city status on Armagh.”
