King Charles tonight praised the Bayeux Tapestry as a “precious symbol of trust” between nations as he hosted Emmanuel Macron in Britain for the historic presentation of the medieval treasure.
The monarch and the French president met at the British Museum to view the 70-metre embroidery, loaned by France to the UK for the first time in its almost 1,000-year history.
Opening to the public next week, the landmark exhibition represents a significant moment in Anglo-French relations and comes after years of talks over transporting the exceptionally delicate artwork across the Channel.
King Charles said the tapestry offered a vivid reminder of the deep and lasting connections between the two countries, declaring: “The tapestry’s story is one of ambition and uncertainty, of oaths and journeys, of ships, councils, kings, comets and consequences.”
He continued: “Yet it is not merely an English story, nor only a Norman one. Indeed, from the moment of its creation, it may have brought together our two peoples: commissioned in Normandy, yet most likely to have been embroidered in Canterbury by English craftspeople.”
And in a pointed reference to the modern world, the King said: ‘The Bayeux Tapestry – or the Canterbury Embroidery as it might just have been called – recounts a conflict, yet here it is today, nearly a thousand years later, as a precious symbol of trust, at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations.’
Charles, who spoke in both English and French, also said: ‘We have defended our values together in times of peril; we continue to do so today across the world.’
He concluded: ‘Monsieur le Président, Madame Macron, Ladies and Gentlemen, may this Tapestry – and the treasures that will travel in return – stand as symbols not only of our shared past, but our shared future: a future woven, as it should be, by Britain and France together.’
The King and the French president came together at the British Museum to see the 70-metre-long embroidery, which is being loaned to Britain by France
The landmark exhibition, which opens to the public next week, marks a major moment in Anglo-French relations and follows years of negotiations over bringing the extraordinarily fragile artwork across the Channel
Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron holding hands on the steps on the British Museum after a viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition
The King and Mr Macron arrived together at the museum in the State Bentley, while Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron followed behind in another car.
Both women wore white dresses, with Camilla choosing a design by Anna Valentine.
They were welcomed by Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel before being joined by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, France’s culture minister and Sir Thomas Drew, Britain’s ambassador to France.
Mr Burnham and Mr Macron appeared particularly at ease as they chatted and at times put their arms around each other, while Ms van Heel spoke French with Mrs Macron.
Inside the Salisbury Exhibition Gallery, the party was taken through the exhibition by museum director Dr Nicholas Cullinan, chairman George Osborne and curators Michael Lewis and Sue Brunning.
They walked the entire length of the embroidery, stopping to examine some of its most famous scenes depicting the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Among them was the depiction of Harold’s coronation before his death at Hastings, traditionally understood to show an arrow striking him in the eye.
Charles paused at the famous scene and asked: ‘Where exactly is Harold? The arrow is quite faint, isn’t it?’
The King also asked about the extraordinary operation required to bring the ancient textile to Britain.
The King and Mr Macron arrived together at the museum in the State Bentley, while Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron followed behind in another car
French first lady Brigitte Macron talks with students of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle school outside the British Museum
Mr Burnham and Mr Macron appeared particularly at ease as they chatted and at times put their arms around each other, while Ms van Heel spoke French with Mrs Macron
It took 18 hours to transport the tapestry across the Channel to its temporary home, with the artwork subject to stringent precautions because of its age and delicacy.
‘It’s very well insured,’ Charles joked to Mr Macron.
Mr Osborne thanked the French president for making the loan possible, telling him: ‘Thank you, really, so much, for making this happen.’
Mr Macron replied: ‘It took a few years to deliver, but we got there.’
The chairman said the British Museum expected more than one million people to visit the exhibition, potentially making it the institution’s biggest blockbuster yet.
The loan was first announced during Mr Macron’s State Visit to Britain in July 2025, with the UK agreeing to send treasures including objects from the Sutton Hoo burial to France in return.
The diplomatic effort to secure the tapestry has stretched back decades and was complicated by Brexit and the Covid pandemic, as well as concerns about the impact of moving such an old and fragile object.
Mr Osborne later joked about the succession of British prime ministers involved in securing the loan.
He said it had been discussed and negotiated under Theresa May, Sir Keir Starmer and now Mr Burnham, adding to laughter: ‘1066 wasn’t the only time we had a rapid succession of leaders.’
Mr Macron delivered a speech lasting more than ten minutes in English and French, recalling how he had first discussed bringing the tapestry to Britain during a visit to Sandhurst in 2018.
‘It has required a little patience, then again, one does not move an artwork nearly a thousand years old lightly,’ he said.
‘But since the first British request dates back to 1931, I choose to regard eight years as something of a speed record.’
Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivers a speech after viewing the Bayeux Tapestry
Mr Macron also praised Britain’s role in Nato and the G7, before turning to Mr Burnham’s first overseas visit as Prime Minister, to Ukraine
Charles, who spoke in both English and French, also said: ‘We have defended our values together in times of peril; we continue to do so today across the world.’
The French president also praised the relationship between the two countries, recalling the ‘entente cordiale’ referred to by Charles during his State Dinner at Windsor Castle last year.
He highlighted the artwork’s likely English origins and joked that British influence had even extended to the grounds of the French presidential palace.
‘Even the Elysee garden is in the English style, but it will remain between us,’ he said.
Mr Macron also praised Britain’s role in Nato and the G7, before turning to Mr Burnham’s first overseas visit as Prime Minister, to Ukraine.
‘That mattered,’ he said.
He ended by describing the tapestry as a symbol of an Anglo-French alliance that was ‘always closer and together’, declaring: ‘Long live culture’.
Mr Burnham delivered the final speech, joking with the French president: ‘Thank you for this elaborate, 70-metre reminder of Britain’s biggest defeat’.
He then poked fun at the tapestry’s depiction of William, Duke of Normandy, travelling south to claim the English crown.
The Prime Minister said it showed ‘a leader from the north, coming south to seek the crown – that would never happen now’.
The royal party later met British and French schoolchildren gathered in the Great Court.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France meet children during a preview event for the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition
Mr Burnham said: ‘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’
The French president also praised the relationship between the two countries, recalling the ‘entente cordiale’ referred to by Charles during his State Dinner at Windsor Castle last year
The visit came after Charles and Camilla had hosted the Macrons for a private tea at Clarence House, where the couple were shown Fabuleu de Maucour, the ceremonial horse presented by President Macron to the late Queen.
The horse has since become a ceremonial horse and the Master of the Horse’s charger at Trooping the Colour.
The exhibition is accompanied by the British Museum’s new ‘Bayeux Around Britain’ programme, which aims to take the story of the tapestry to communities around the country.
More than 70 organisations across all four nations have already signed up, with a digital exhibition due to appear in museums, galleries, castles, cathedrals and heritage sites.
Thousands of schoolchildren will also take part in a live national history lesson on October 14 exploring the tapestry and the shared history of Britain and France.
Mr Burnham said: ‘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.
‘The Bayeux Around Britain campaign will give communities across the UK the opportunity to learn about one of the defining stories of our past.
‘As we celebrate our shared heritage, President Macron and I will continue to strengthen the relationship between our two nations.’
