Overview
- The director, Nicholas Cullinan, proposed a 2026 gala themed on the Union Jack and French tricolore to coincide with the Bayeux Tapestry loan from Normandy.
- Curatorial and administrative staff called the idea “in poor taste,” pointing to flag campaigns that included a group reported to have accepted a donation from Britain First.
- The museum said the inaugural October ball raised over £2.5 million for international partnerships and confirmed plans for a follow-up event in autumn 2026, with details to come.
- Supporters such as Prof Nick Groom urged the museum to proceed, arguing that retreating would cede the flag’s meaning to the far right.
- Fresh political commentary has entered the row, with former Conservative MP Henry Smith criticizing objections to the national colours.