French President Emmanuel Macron has said the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum is a “tangible expression of long-standing friendship” and a sign of what the two countries “can achieve when they join forces”. Around 7.5 million people are expected to see the tapestry in London when it goes on show from September to July 2027.
Macron’s message in The Times
Writing in The Times, Mr Macron said the loan was a “tangible expression of long-standing friendship and a sign of our shared desire to see France and the United Kingdom build their future together”. He said the two nations recognise what sets each other apart, but also “their natural affinity and what they can achieve when they join forces”.
“This is what our partnership must continue to embody,” he said. “The UK is a strategic partner, ally and friend of France. Faced with the major challenges of our time – the security of our continent, technological sovereignty, innovation, energy and decarbonisation, and the resilience of our democracies – we have chosen to act together.”
An unfinished story
“The Bayeux Tapestry is an unfinished story. Its conclusion eludes us; its final scene does not bring the story to a close. Perhaps that is where its most contemporary strength lies. It is our job to write the next chapter, in a spirit of respect, trust and renewed alliance,” Macron added.
The tapestry depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings, which saw William the Conqueror take the English throne from King Harold and become the first Norman king of England. It has been on display at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Bayeux in Normandy since 1983 and will return there when the museum opens after renovation.
Exhibition details
The loan will allow the British Museum to display the tapestry from September 2026 to July 2027, with an estimated 7.5 million visitors expected to view it during that period. The exhibition marks a significant cultural exchange between the two nations.
