Chateau Laurier celebrates the return of the Sir Winston Churchill portrait [Video]

The “Roaring Lion” returned to the walls of Ottawa’s Fairmont Château Laurier on Friday, nearly three years after the historic portrait of Sir Winston Churchill was stolen.

The Ottawa hotel hosted a ceremony to celebrate as the “‘Roaring Lion’ reclaims its rightful place among the treasured walls of the Fairmont Château Laurier,” after it returned from Italy this fall. It is located in the original home in Zoe’s Lounge, formerly the “Reading Lounge” at the downtown Ottawa hotel.

Bruno Lair (right), assistant director of engineering at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, unveils the portrait of Winston Churchill along with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Canadian Heritage Deputy Minister Isabelle Mondou during a ceremony at the hotel, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The portrait by photographer Yousuf Karsh was discovered missing in August 2022, and officials narrowed down the timeline to the portrait being stolen between Dec. …