CNN — Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, will return to the White House on May 31 for the hanging of his official portrait, a spokesman for Bush said.

"They are looking forward to seeing a lot of their friends from the administration and they are grateful to the president and first lady for their hospitality," spokesman Freddy Ford said.

Bush has mostly shied from D.C. and the White House since leaving office. He was in town earlier this week for an event highlighting the work of the George W. Bush Presidential Center to promote political freedom.

The-CNN-Wire/Atlanta/+1-404-827-WIRE(9473)
™ & © 2012 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.