BAYEUX TAPESTRY ARRIVES AT BRITISH MUSEUM AFTER SECRET JOURNEY FROM FRANCE

The Bayeux Tapestry arrived at the British Museum at 02:50 on a date in early 2025, transported in a police-guarded lorry from a secret location in northern France. The 70-metre long, 11th-century embroidery was lowered from the vehicle in a loading bay whilst a select group of guests including the French ambassador to the UK and British Museum director Nick Cullinan observed the arrival. The museum will display the textile from September. According to the BBC, this marks the first time the tapestry has arrived in the UK since it is believed to have been created here nearly 1,000 years ago.

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts in 58 scenes the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The heavy crate containing the artwork was encased in an aluminium frame for transport. Nick Cullinan described the arrival as "something rather extraordinary" and stated the museum is "excited to share it with as many people as possible." Millie Horton-Insch, project curator of the British Museum's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, told the BBC she was moved by the sight of the object, noting its age and the proximity of its creation to the historical events it depicts.

The nine-month loan is backed by the French government under an agreement finalised between French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year. Macron posted a photograph showing an image of the Bayeux Tapestry projected on to the white cliffs of Dover, with text reading "merci beaucoup". The tapestry's display at the British Museum represents a significant cultural exchange between the two nations.