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UK Sets Provisional £800m Indemnity for Bayeux Tapestry Loan to British Museum

The guarantee would be provided through the Government Indemnity Scheme used in place of commercial insurance.

Overview

  • HM Treasury has provisionally approved an estimated £800m valuation with taxpayer-backed cover planned for loss or damage during transport and display.
  • The indemnity remains conditional on a final valuation and formal sign-off by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
  • The tapestry is scheduled to be shown in London from September 2026 to July 2027 while the Bayeux museum is renovated as part of a Franco‑British cultural exchange.
  • A bilateral agreement sets strict handling rules, including a special crate, a protective screen, a trial run using a facsimile with vibration sensors, and transfer by truck through the Channel Tunnel.
  • Conservation specialists in France and the UK continue to warn that moving the near‑1,000‑year‑old textile could risk irreparable damage.