The British Museum has confirmed the Bayeux Tapestry will be loaned from France for the first time in 950 years. Sources close to the deal say the security operation, costing upwards of £20 million, is a fortress on wheels. The 70-metre embroidery, depicting the Norman conquest, will be transported under armed guard in a climate-controlled vault.
The route is classified, known only to a handful of officers. Scotland Yard and the French National Gendarmerie are running a joint task force. The tapestry’s value is incalculable, but the insurance premium alone is rumoured to be £8 million.
The public will get a glimpse in 2025, but only if the logistics hold. This is not a loan. It is a military operation with a velvet rope.
