Royal and Presidential Gathering at the British Museum
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the British Museum in London on Wednesday evening for a private tour of the Bayeux Tapestry, as reported by CNN and Kent Online. The visit formed part of a two-day trip by the Macrons to the United Kingdom aimed at fostering closer ties between the two countries, according to CNN.
The group, which also included British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel, walked the length of the 70-metre (230-foot) embroidery, a masterpiece of dyed wool on bleached linen that depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The tapestry, created 960 years ago, shows William of Normandy seizing the throne from Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, as detailed by CNN.
A Historic Return and a Warm Reception
The tapestry arrived in the UK in July after an absence of more than 900 years, on loan until September 2027 as part of a trilateral agreement between the UK, France, and the museum, according to LBC. CNN reported that the loan follows a historic agreement reached between the two countries after years of negotiation and careful planning to transport the work safely from its permanent home in Normandy.
Burnham, who has been in office since July 20, met Macron for the first time during the visit, making Macron the first European leader to visit the UK since Burnham took office, as stated by LBC. The Prime Minister described the occasion as a landmark moment, saying: "The return of the Bayeux Tapestry to England is a landmark moment in the history of our two nations, and I want people everywhere in the country to be able to enjoy it," as quoted by PA Media and carried by both CNN and LBC.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also commented on the significance of the loan, saying: "This will be the first generation in 1,000 years who will be able to see this unique part of our heritage and we are determined that children from all backgrounds across every part of Britain have the chance to see it," as reported by LBC.
Tour and Remarks
During the tour, Macron told the King and the Prime Minister that it had been a "happy end, we're here," according to Kent Online. The remark came after Burnham joked to Macron, who was standing beside the King: "Made in England, they couldn't bear to show the end… too difficult," prompting a smile from the French president and a laugh from Charles, as detailed by Kent Online.
The party stopped at key moments along the 11th-century artwork to hear from curators about historic events such as the coronation of Harold Godwinson and the much-disputed depiction of his death by an arrow to the eye at the Battle of Hastings, according to LBC. Kent Online noted that at the end of their walk, it was pointed out that a further 1,000 years of history are not included in the work.
Before the arrival of the dignitaries, Great Russell Street was lined with members of the public hoping to catch a glimpse of the leaders, as reported by Kent Online. The director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, and the museum's chairman, George Osborne, welcomed the group, with Osborne greeting them in front of the landmark.
Reception and Other Guests
After the tour, the dignitaries gathered in the museum's glass-topped Great Court for a reception, as reported by CNN and LBC. LBC stated that the King and Macron were set to deliver speeches in celebration of the loan, with representatives from Britain and France involved in the process and schoolchildren from both countries in attendance. Other invitees included former Prime Minister Theresa May, Sir David Davis, and artist Tracey Emin, according to LBC.
The visit comes ahead of Burnham's scheduled bilateral meeting with Macron at Downing Street on Thursday, expected to focus on small boat crossings, the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and trade and energy, as reported by LBC.