Macron and Burnham Meet as Bayeux Tapestry Returns to UK

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in London on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, for a two-day visit to meet with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and King Charles III. The visit began with a private viewing of the 1,000-year-old Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, marking the first time the artwork has been on British soil since the 11th century. The tapestry, insured for 960 million euros, is on a 10-month loan from France until September 2027; in exchange, the British Museum is lending Viking and Anglo-Saxon treasures to museums in Normandy.

During the event, King Charles III described the tapestry as a symbol of trust, while Macron spoke of advancing a "UK reset" with the European Union. The cultural event preceded a private meeting at Clarence House and set the stage for bilateral talks scheduled for Thursday at 10 Downing Street. These discussions will focus on reducing small boat migrant crossings in the English Channel, post-Brexit economic growth, and international conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

Before arriving in the United Kingdom, Macron visited Eindhoven, Netherlands, to meet Prime Minister Rob Jetten and tour the semiconductor company ASML with a delegation of French firms. The diplomatic tour reflects Macron's push for European sovereignty and Burnham's efforts to restore international standing and closer ties with the European bloc following a decade of low growth.