On 2 September 2026, at the British Museum in London, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, together with their spouses, viewed the famous Bayeux Tapestry.
This is a preview showing of the 70-metre work from the eleventh century, which has arrived on British soil for the first time in nearly a thousand years under an agreement between the two countries.
The tapestry, believed to have been created in England, tells of the Norman conquest of 1066, including the coronation of Harold and the Battle of Hastings.
King Charles III noted that he is a direct descendant of William the Conqueror, one of the main figures of the canvas, and called the exhibition “the best possible symbol of closeness” between the United Kingdom and France.
President Macron stressed that the tapestry is not merely a linen cloth but an entire chapter of French, British and European history that has linked the cultures and destinies of the two peoples.
Prime Minister Burnham called the transfer of the artefact “an outstanding personal gesture of goodwill, trust and friendship” and stressed that it is a landmark moment in the history of the two nations.
The exhibition opened to the general public on 10 September and will run until July 2027; tickets have already sold out for many months ahead.
The agreement on the temporary transfer of the tapestry became part of efforts to strengthen relations after Brexit, and in exchange British museums will provide France with exhibits from Sutton Hoo.
What significance does this gesture have for the future of dialogue between London and Paris?
The leaders expressed hope that the joint display of the masterpiece will help preserve and develop ties between the countries.
