Missing Churchill picture found in Italy: Hotel mystery ends after 3-year hunt
A well-known Churchill photo taken from Ottawaʼs luxury hotel got switched with a copy during winter holidays three years ago. Two local detectives went to Rome to bring back the real portrait
The iconic photo of Winston Churchill – known as “The Roaring Lion“ – made its way back to Ottawaʼs Fairmont Chateau Laurier after being switched with a fake copy about three years ago
During winter holidays of 2021 the original portrait disappeared from hotels wall; someone put a copy in its place (which looked almost real at first glance). The switch went un-noticed for months until a sharp-eyed worker spotted something odd: the frame didnt match others and wasnt hanging right
The discovery led to a cross-continental chase – two Ottawa police detectives tracked the portrait all the way to Rome. Their mission proved successful; they brought back the authentic piece thatʼs now back where it belongs
