The tapestry \u2013 the woven record of the Norman Conquest \u2013 has returned to Britain for the first time in almost 1,000 years, on loan until September 2027 as part of a special trilateral agreement between the UK, France and the museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a public display of warm Anglo-French relations, Charles<\/a> and Camilla<\/a> joined Andy Burnham<\/a>, Emmanuel Macron<\/a> and their wives as they walked the length of the 70-metre masterpiece at the British Museum in London on Wednesday afternoon. <\/p>\n 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<\/a> to the eye at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.<\/p>\n At the end of their walk, it was pointed out to them that a further 1,000 years of history are not included in the work.<\/p>\n Mr Burnham joked to Mr Macron, who was standing beside the King: \u201cMade in England, they couldn\u2019t bear to show the end\u2026 too difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n The French president smiled and replied, \u201cHappy end, we\u2019re here,\u201d prompting a laugh from Charles.<\/p>\n The King pointed out his preferred section, turning around to tell Mr Macron, \u201cOh, this is my favourite bit,\u201d while pointing to a group of Normans pulling a cart.<\/p>\n The two men laughed as Charles said: \u201cThey\u2019ve got an enormous amount of wine\u201d.<\/p>\n The King quoted Shakespeare, saying \u201cwhat is past is prologue\u201d after looking at the tapestry.<\/p>\n He told the French president: \u201cI well remember our discussing this possibility during our state visit to France in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a particular joy, therefore, to see the hope become reality.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, it is thanks to the certainty you have always had \u2013 and which I very much share \u2013 that we are here this evening in order that the tapestry should be seen, in London, for the benefit of the peoples of both our countries: the best possible symbol of that \u2018entente amicale\u2019, of which we have both spoken so fondly.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing on the same podium, Mr Macron later echoed the \u201centente amicale\u201d sentiment as he spoke of \u201cadvancing the UK reset\u201d with the EU.<\/p>\n Addressing Mr Burnham, the French president said: \u201cWhile we do not always see eye to eye, we respect one another, remain open to discussing everything, including advancing the UK reset with the European Union, always closer and together.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this is why I really do hope that the entente amicale he announced will inspire this new path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The three men then gave their speeches, watched by a crowd including schoolchildren, in the museum\u2019s Great Court.<\/p>\n The tapestry was \u201cmost likely to have been embroidered in Canterbury by English\u201d, Charles said, before joking: \u201cThe Bayeux Tapestry \u2013 or the Canterbury embroidery as it might just have been called\u2026 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot help but feel that its protagonists, on both sides of the Channel, would look with satisfaction on the Franco-British gathering here today, and be pleased that our two great nations, which share such fundamental values, have prospered together \u2013 across the tides of history.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Shakespeare said in The Tempest: \u2018What is past is prologue.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWe have defended our values together in times of peril. We continue to do so today across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Before their arrival, Great Russell Street was lined with members of the public waiting to catch a glimpse of the leaders.<\/p>\n Mr Burnham waved to a crowd of journalists as he and Mrs van Heel, wearing a white dress, exited their car shortly before 6pm to wait for their companions.<\/p>\n About 10 minutes later, to cheers from onlookers, the King and Mr Macron drove up in one car and Camilla and the first lady, both also in white dresses, in another.<\/p>\n Among those who greeted the royals and the Macrons were the museum\u2019s director, Nicholas Cullinan, and its chair, former chancellor George Osborne.<\/p>\n Mr Macron is the first European leader to visit the UK since Mr Burnham took office, and it is the first time they have met.<\/p>\n The loan of the tapestry to the British Museum has been sponsored by billionaire Igor Tulchinsky<\/a>, the founder, chairman, and chief executive of the quantitative investment firm WorldQuant.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Britain\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788388036_767_download...jpeg\")
Britain\u2019s King Charles III, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, and Queen Camilla arrive to view the Bayeux Tapestry (AP)<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2292626841...jpeg\")
King Charles III and Queen Camilla alongside Emmanuel Macron view a section of the Bayeux Tapestry (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-09-02T201624Z_1587271302_RC27BNAVZ5EU_RTRMADP_3_BRITAIN-FRANCE-BAYEUX.JPG\")
King Charles spoke with French president Emmanuel Macron as they prepared to depart the British Museum (Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2292650260...jpeg\")
King Charles III delivered a speech (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2292624750...jpeg\")
Andy Burnham, left, and his wife Marie-France van Heel, centre, are greeted by British Museum chair George Osborne, right (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2292621941...jpeg\")
The Bayeux Tapestry is on exhibition at the British Museum (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n