Bush set to return to White House to unveil portrait

The former president and first lady will be honoured by President Barack Obama with the unveiling of their official portraits that will hang at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Bush's return to his former home of eight years provides a rare opportunity for a joint appearance of the current President and his predecessor.

The White House also confirmed that the Bushes are slated to revisit their former Washington home on May 31, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.

"The Bushes are looking forward to being back in Washington and seeing some of their friends. They appreciate the Obamas' hospitality in hosting the portrait hanging," Bush's spokesman Freddy Ford said.

The occasion will mark Bush's first public visit to the White House since January 2010 when he and Bill Clinton joined Obama for a meeting on Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

The visit also comes at a time when Bush has endorsed Obama's Republican rival Mitt Romney.