King Charles and Queen Camilla joined Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron for a landmark evening at the British Museum, bringing together prominent figures for a historic royal engagement.
They are viewing the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum this evening alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and his wife Marie-France Van-Heel.
Following a private viewing of the medieval collection, the royals and politicians made their way into the British Museum’s Great Court.
King Charles and President Macron will later address the crowd to commemorate the historic occasion.
The monarch and his Queen of Consort gathered with the French President and First Lady for a private tea at Clarence House earlier in the evening.
The group also visited Fabuleu du Maucour, the horse Macron presented to Queen Elizabeth II, now serving in a number of high-profile ceremonial roles.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Macrons arrived together at the entrance of the British Museum this evening.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and his wife Marie-France Van-Heel led the royal party and French delegation inside, where curators guided them through the Salisbury Exhibition Gallery and its embroidered cloth, highlighting key historical panels.
Notably, the cultural deal behind the exhibition was first negotiated during a formal State Visit to the United Kingdom in July 2025.
President Macron and Mrs Macron visited the UK at the invitation of the King.
During that visit, the British Government and the French Government announced a diplomatic exchange of historic items.
Under the cultural agreement, France agreed to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum, while the UK will send British treasures, including Sutton Hoo artefacts, to France.
Following the private tour, the delegation joined the official reception, with the exhibition opening to the public after the speeches.
Notably, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s France visit came after the Queen made a visit to
the Royal Academy of Dance, which is one of the world’s leading dance education and training organisations, with members in 85 countries and over 400,000 students in the UK.
