King Charles and Macron viewed the Bayeux Tapestry: in Britain for the first time in almost a thousand years
Photo: The Royal Household
King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron to the British Museum, where they viewed the Bayeux Tapestry, back on British soil for the first time since it was made. The public will be admitted from 10 September.
King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron to the British Museum in London on Wednesday. Together they viewed the Bayeux Tapestry, which is back on British soil for the first time since it was made almost a thousand years ago.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and President Macron in front of the Bayeux Tapestry in its display case. Photo: The Royal Household
• Seventy metres of history
The tapestry is 70 metres long and embroidered in wool thread on linen. It depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold's Anglo-Saxon army and laid the foundation for the Norman conquest of England.
The embroidery is believed to have been made in England, but has been preserved in France for centuries. It is now in London on a historic loan between the two countries.
The four arrived at the British Museum together. Photo: The Royal Household
• Opens to the public on 10 September
Wednesday's visit was the private opening. The public will be admitted from 10 September, and the exhibition runs until 11 July 2027.
Interest has been considerable. When tickets were released in July, up to 80,000 people joined the online queue, and the first batch sold out.
The presidential couple and the royal couple on the steps in front of the museum. Photo: The Royal Household
King Charles waves to those gathered. Photo: The Royal Household
• Through the day
Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron walked side by side through the museum. Photo: The Royal Household
Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla hand in hand on their way down the steps. Photo: The Royal Household
King Charles and President Macron led the way, with Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla behind. Photo: The Royal Household
Brigitte Macron, President Macron, King Charles and Queen Camilla. Photo: The Royal Household
Macron was in Stockholm as recently as Monday, where he was received in audience by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria.