The new Secretary of State has dismissed claims there are no pictures of the Queen at the Northern Ireland Office's Belfast HQ.
Julian Smith said he “was delighted to see a picture of Her Majesty in my office when I arrived at Stormont House for the first time”.
His comment follows reports that all portraits of the monarch have been removed from the building.
Lord Magginis revealed earlier this month how the government department paid £10,000 to a civil servant who saw working under portraits of the Queen and her husband as an equality issue.
The Tyrone peer said the portraits of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were removed following a secret deal signed off by then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.
On Tuesday it was claimed that all images of the Queen had been banned from Stormont House.
But the New Secretary of State says this is not the case as there is one in his office.
Mr Smith added: “There are also many pictures and portraits of Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family on public display at Hillsborough Castle.
“The NIO supports an extensive programme of visits by members of the Royal Family to Northern Ireland.
“I also recognise the importance of the Northern Ireland Office being an open and inclusive place to work, able to attract highly skilled people from across all parts of our community in Northern Ireland.
“As an employer in Northern Ireland, the NIO takes its obligations under the Northern Ireland Act and Fair Employment legislation seriously.
“I am not going to comment on the specific comments made by Lord Maginnis.”
A spokesperson for the Alliance Party said “care is necessary when commenting on what is an NIO staffing issue without the full details”.
But they added: “However, generally there should be no issue with an appropriately placed portrait of the Queen as Head of State in a Government Building.”
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