Macron meets King Charles before viewing Bayeux Tapestry at start of U.K. visit

Britain's King Charles III (far right) and Britain's Queen Camilla (second from right) stand with France's President Emmanuel Macron (second from left) and his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they arrive at the British Museum in London on Sept. 2, 2026. Photo by CARLOS JASSO /AFP via Getty Images

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French President Emmanuel Macron kicked off a two-day visit to Britain Wednesday, meeting King Charles III at his London residence ahead of viewing the landmark Bayeux Tapestry exhibition with the monarch and their wives.

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Macron and wife Brigitte met Charles and Queen Camilla at Clarence House in central London, before joining Prime Minister Andy Burnham at an event to mark the British Museum’s historic tapestry showcase.

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All three men were expected to deliver remarks at the early evening inauguration ceremony in the British capital.

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The work depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England — which had not left France since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago — goes on public display at the museum from next week until July.

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The daring loan gambit is the culmination of years of cross-Channel diplomacy, with Macron playing an instrumental role, and is viewed as another step towards healing the rancour of the Brexit years.

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“The loaning of the tapestry is a great example of French-British cooperation,” Burnham told MPs earlier Wednesday, heralding “the same cooperation” as helping reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel to Britain on small boats to a seven-year low.

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The Bayeux Tapestry on exhibit at the British Museum in London on Sept. 2, 2026. Photo by Ludovic MARIN /AFP via Getty Images

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The UK premier — who replaced Keir Starmer in July — will be looking for other concrete outcomes when he welcomes Macron to Downing Street for talks Thursday. The French president will be the first European Union leader hosted there by Burnham.

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The former Manchester mayor has been clear he is eager to build on his predecessor’s efforts to forge closer post-Brexit cooperation with the bloc as he eyes boosting sluggish U.K. growth.

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He has largely focused on domestic policy since taking over, but has maintained London’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

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Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at Kings College London, warned there was a danger the visit would be “style without substance,” even though Britain and France can appear “best buddies” on non-EU business like Ukraine.

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Macron and Starmer enjoyed good ties and adopted lead roles in a so-called Coalition of the Willing of nations supporting Ukraine.

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“The president had developed with prime minister Starmer a very friendly and highly effective relationship, particularly on Ukraine and the Middle East,” a French presidential official said, asking not to be named.

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Coordination with Burnham was expected to be “just as important and regular,” added the official.

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For Macron, who arrived from a trip to the Netherlands, the visit is significant as he approaches the final months of his presidential term.

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The French leader remains eager to press his vision of European sovereignty not dependent on the United States — and the U.K. is seen as having a crucial role to play even after its EU divorce.