Portrait of President Michael D Higgins Removed from Belfast Lord Mayor's Office

The Lord Mayor of Belfast was unable to offer an explanation when asked about the missing portrait of President Michael D Higgins. For over a year, portraits of Britain’s King Charles and President Higgins have been displayed in the lord mayor’s parlour at Belfast City Hall. The parlour is a formal room used for meetings and special occasions. Last week, the current lord mayor, Tracy Kelly, posted a picture with only the portrait of King Charles visible, sparking questions about the missing portrait of President Higgins. Tracy Kelly became the first woman from the DUP to be elected as lord mayor of Belfast last month. At a recent council meeting, former lord mayor Ryan Murphy praised Kelly's work but raised concerns about the missing portrait of President Higgins. No explanation has been provided for the removal of the portrait.

According to a DUP spokesperson, the decoration of the lord mayor’s parlour is not yet complete, and more artefacts will be added in the coming weeks. This is not the first time portraits in the parlour have caused controversy. In the past, portraits of Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth were replaced with other historical figures. The recent incident has raised questions about the significance of the missing portrait of President Higgins.