The prints are part of Warhol's Reigning Queens series, which features portraits of four reigning queens from the 1980s: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland. The stolen works depict Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe. The prints of Beatrix and Ntombi were found nearby the gallery.
Mark Peet Visser, the owner of MPV Gallery, believes the theft was carefully planned, heavy explosives were used to gain entry. The thieves were unable to fit all four works in their vehicle, leaving two behind. The gallery and surrounding area suffered extensive damage, with windows shattered and debris scattered.
Visser reports that the artwork is now "irreparably damaged" and therefore difficult to sell, especially as Warhol's prints are numbered and thus easily identifiable.
