Delay in the transportation of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum due to French strikes impeding the scheduled loan.
The transfer of the Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval artifact recording the 1066 Norman conquest of Anglo-Saxon England, has been delayed due to planned protests and strikes in France. Originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, the tapestry will now be moved to a secure location within France in the coming days.
The decision to postpone the transfer was made by Philippe Bélaval, the French presidency's envoy for the British Museum loan. Bélaval insisted that there is no suggestion that the loan to the UK will damage the tapestry. He stated that due to the expected mobilization on Thursday, local authorities do not feel they can ensure the security of the transfer and the safety of such an expensive work.
The Bayeux Tapestry is set to be loaned to the British Museum for 10 months starting from September 2026. This will mark the first time in its almost 1000-year lifetime that the tapestry will be on British soil. The loan is part of a plan to celebrate Franco-British relations, as French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to the loan to mark the anniversary of the Treaty of Le Touquet.
However, the decision to loan the tapestry has caused controversy, with critics arguing it risks causing damage to the priceless artifact. A petition has been posted online calling on Macron to stop what they consider a "true heritage crime". Unions have vowed mass protests, and public transport is expected to be paralyzed in some places due to strikes.
France is bracing for a day of nationwide disruption on Thursday due to protests and strikes over Macron's budget policies. Officials have warned of the possibility of extremists causing disturbances on Thursday. Despite these challenges, Bélaval remains optimistic that the transfer will take place soon, and the tapestry will be securely held at the Bayeux Museum in France during safeguarding before its loan to the United Kingdom.
In exchange for the loan, French museums will receive ancient treasures mainly from the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo site. The location of the secret place where the tapestry is due to be kept safely ahead of the loan has not been revealed. The tapestry is currently held in a museum that is closed for renovations. It is expected that the transfer operation will take place "in the coming days", according to Bélaval.
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