The world-famous Bayeux Tapestry, the earliest-known depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings is set to return to the UK for the first time in nearly a millennium. The iconic embroidery, often described as a 224-foot medieval comic strip, vividly narrates the Norman Conquest, which transformed England’s history and identity forever.
The tapestry shows William, Duke of Normandy, later crowned William the Conqueror leading an army across the Channel, defeating King Harold (famously struck by an arrow to the eye), and claiming the English throne. Woven in wool on linen, the masterpiece is often considered the world’s first piece of war propaganda.
Believed to have been stitched in England shortly after the battle, the tapestry was soon taken to France, where it has remained for centuries in the medieval town of Bayeux, Normandy. Until now, Britain has only displayed a 19th-century replica.
However, with the Bayeux Museum closing for major renovations this September, the historic embroidery will be packed up and sent on loan to London’s British Museum. The display is scheduled to open in September 2026.
The long-awaited loan deal was announced this week during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK. Standing alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, Macron described the agreement years in the making, as a milestone for Anglo-French cultural ties, joking that the project took longer to finalize than the Brexit negotiations.
In a speech to Parliament, Macron also highlighted that 2027 marks what would have been William the Conqueror’s 1,000th birthday. Prime Minister Starmer called the Bayeux Tapestry a vivid symbol of the “1,000 years of shared culture” between Britain and France, a relationship once forged in battle but now defined by mutual respect and collaboration. The leaders also used the visit to reaffirm their cooperation on other issues, including stronger support for Ukraine and a new migration agreement to manage Channel crossings. But for many, the star of this historic visit remains the return of a medieval masterpiece that shaped England’s story and is finally coming home.
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