French President Emmanuel Macron joined King Charles III, Queen Camilla and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the British Museum in London for a special preview of the historic Bayeux Tapestry.
The visit took place on Wednesday, September 2, during Macron’s two-day trip to the United Kingdom. The leaders viewed the nearly 1,000-year-old artwork, which tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
The 70-metre tapestry has returned to England for the first time since its creation. France loaned the historic work to the British Museum as part of a wider cultural agreement between the two countries.
Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at the museum. Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, also attended the private viewing.
The group walked along the length of the tapestry and heard explanations from museum curators. They explored scenes depicting important events before and during the Norman conquest, including Harold Godwinson’s coronation and his death at the Battle of Hastings.
After viewing the artwork, the leaders joined representatives from Britain and France in the museum’s Great Court.
King Charles praised France for allowing Britain to host the historic tapestry. He also described the loan as an important symbol of friendship between the two nations.
The exhibition carries cultural and diplomatic importance for both countries. The UK and France agreed on the historic loan during Macron’s state visit to Britain in 2025. In return, British museums will lend important Anglo-Saxon treasures to French institutions, including objects connected to Sutton Hoo.
The exhibition also forms part of the wider “Bayeux Around Britain” programme. The initiative will bring the story of the tapestry to communities across the UK through digital exhibitions, museum displays and educational programmes. More than 70 organisations have joined the programme.
Macron’s visit also has an important political dimension. The French president and Burnham are expected to discuss issues including migration, trade, energy and support for Ukraine. They are also expected to examine opportunities for closer cooperation between Britain and France following Brexit.
For now, however, the British Museum provided a historic backdrop for the relationship.
The Bayeux Tapestry will open to the public on September 10 and remain in London until 2027. Its return gives visitors a rare opportunity to see one of Europe’s most important medieval artworks in the country whose conquest it depicts.
