Overview

• A signed portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, dated 2002, was found in a 'treasure room' inside Bashar al-Assad's New Shaab Palace in Damascus.
• The portrait, a relic of Assad's diplomatic visit to Buckingham Palace with his wife Asma, was among gold-encrusted chests, artwork, and mementos of his rule.
• Rebel forces stormed Damascus, forcing Assad and his family to flee to Moscow on December 8 after his regime's sudden collapse.
• Looters and civilians were seen taking luxury items from the palace, including Louis Vuitton bags and chandeliers, while Assad's fleet of luxury cars became a public spectacle.
• The fall of Assad's regime marks the end of nearly 14 years of civil war, with rebel fighters now guarding the palace and uncovering evidence of the family's abrupt departure.