Overview

• The tapestry left its Bayeux museum for the first time since 1983 and was placed in secure storage at the Baron Gérard Museum a short distance away.
• The covert operation took seven hours and 15 minutes, involving more than 90 staff, a custom wooden crate, a refrigerated lorry and plainclothes police.
• Local authorities said the timing and route were kept secret to protect the artefact and limit disruption to residents.
• An earlier attempt to move the work was delayed due to nationwide strikes, with the display in London scheduled for September 2026 for a nine-month run.
• The loan is part of a reciprocal exchange as France undertakes a museum renovation through October 2027, even as conservators warn of transport risks and a petition exceeds 73,000 signatures.