Storage or on show? What now for Queen's portraits?

Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022

Official portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II have been hanging in public buildings for 70 years, but what should happen to them now that King Charles III has taken the throne?

That question led to a row at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council after a suggestion a portrait of the late Queen could end up in storage to make way for a portrait of the King.

The council's equality and diversity officer said the portrait of the late Queen "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".

So what have the other councils in Northern Ireland done with their portraits of Elizabeth II?

In June public authorities across the UK were given the opportunity to apply, for free, for a framed portrait of the King to mark the beginning of his reign.

This meant councils had to decide what they would do with their portraits of Elizabeth II.

At a September committee meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council, a proposal to hang the portrait of the King was approved.

However the issue of where to put the late Queen's portrait was not as straightforward.

Public offices across the UK were welcome to apply for a portrait of King Charles III

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Kate Evans said she had "no issues" with the late Queen's portrait being replaced by that of the King, but she did not think the portrait of Elizabeth II should be put into 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," she said.

Democratic Unionist Party councillor Mark Baxter agreed that he would not want to see it 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 late Queen’s portrait being displayed elsewhere] any further," he said.

Councillors were due to be briefed on any progress in finding an equality-compliant location for the Queen’s portrait.

What did NI's council do with their portraits?

Ards and North Down council found itself in a similar position and told BBC News NI it had taken down any portraits of the late Queen.

"The only request that we have is that the portrait should be treated with respect and not left to be forgotten in storage", a statement said.

Antrim and Newtownabbey council has put up the portrait of the King outside the mayor's office and the portrait of the late Queen has been moved into the council art collection in the mayor's parlour.

Belfast City Council displays the portrait of the King in the mayor's parlour, while Elizabeth II's portrait has been moved to the "civic dignitaries accommodation area".

Derry City and Strabane council gave the portrait to St Columb's cathedral rather than putting it up in a council building. It did not provide any detail to the BBC about what had been done with the portrait of the late Queen.

Fermanagh and Omagh, Mid Ulster and Newry, Mourne and Down councils said they did not display portraits of members of the royal family in their buildings.

Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim councils did not respond to the BBC's queries.

Guidance from the UK government is that there is no obligation to take down portraits of Elizabeth II.

It notes that in "some institutions" portraits and likenesses of previous monarchs remain on display.

Additional reporting by Local Democracy reporter François Vincent.