The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of William I’s conquest of England in 1066.
King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum on Wednesday.
The nearly 1,000-year-old embroidery shows the events surrounding William I’s conquest of England in 1066. William is an ancestor of King Charles.
Under an agreement with the French government, the tapestry has been loaned to the British Museum from its home in northern France. It is the first time the historic work has returned to England since it was created.
The tapestry is about 70 metres, or 230 feet, long. Historians believe William’s brother, Bishop Odo, likely ordered its creation. It may have been stitched by English women in Kent.
The embroidery tells the story of the events leading to the Battle of Hastings. It also shows William’s victory over the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II.
Every English monarch since that time, including King Charles, can trace their family line back to William. His victory marked the last successful invasion of England, making 1066 one of the best-known years in British history.
Public interest in the exhibition has been very high. The first group of tickets, priced at up to £33, has already sold out. Sales have reportedly reached almost £2.5 million, making it the British Museum’s best-selling exhibition.
Buckingham Palace said King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the exhibition with President Macron and his wife. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will also join them.
The group will walk along the full length of the tapestry and examine important scenes. These include Harold Godwinson’s coronation and his famous death during the battle.
The loan was confirmed last July during Macron’s state visit to Britain. It is seen as a sign of improving relations between Britain and France following tensions caused by the UK’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
King Charles and President Macron are also said to have a warm relationship.
“The return of the Bayeux Tapestry to England is a landmark moment in the history of our two nations,” Burnham said. “I want people everywhere in the country to be able to enjoy it.”
He added that Britain and France would continue working to strengthen their relationship while celebrating their shared history.
The tapestry arrived in Britain in July. It was transported from France in a temperature-controlled crate designed to protect it from vibration. Police escorted it throughout the carefully planned journey.
The exhibition will open to the public at the British Museum on September 10 and continue until July next year.
