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UK Sets £800 Million State Guarantee for Bayeux Tapestry Loan to British Museum

The valuation remains provisional pending approval by the chancellor, providing cover for transport and display of the 11th-century textile.

Overview

  • The Treasury has provisionally earmarked about £800 million to insure the Bayeux Tapestry during its loan, with final sign‑off required from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
  • The guarantee would protect against loss or damage during transfer from Normandy to London and for the full exhibition period, with the liability backed by UK taxpayers.
  • The tapestry is scheduled for display at the British Museum’s Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery from September 2026 to July 2027, and the museum must manage its care and file a return condition report.
  • People informed on the plan expect overland transport by truck through the Channel Tunnel using a vibration‑monitored, isothermal conservation crate.
  • Conservation specialists and heritage advocates continue to voice concerns about moving a fragile 11th‑century embroidery over a long distance.