Macron’s Gallic charm gets the better of him as he greets Queen Camilla with a very tactile gesture during the Bayeux Tapestry unveiling
Macron’s Gallic charm gets the better of him as he greets Queen Camilla with a very tactile gesture during the Bayeux Tapestry unveiling
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Emmanuel Macron’s Gallic harm appeared to get the better of him on Wednesday, as the French President greeted Queen Camilla with a rather tactile gesture at the Bayeux Tapestry unveiling.
King Charles and Camilla accompanied Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for the historic event at London‘s British Museum yesterday.
The 70-metre-long embroidery is being loaned to Britain by France for the first time in its nearly 1,000-year history and was hailed as a ‘precious symbol of trust’ between the two nations by Charles.
In a rather poignant show of how fond relations truly are between the two nations, video footage showed Macron, 48, warmly placing a hand on Camilla’s back as the two couples arrived at the landmark exhibition.
Camilla, 79, appeared effortlessly elegant in an Anna Valentine white dress, which she paired with a Dior bag and Chanel suede satin pumps. Brigette, meanwhile, opted for an all-white midi dress with matching heels to tie the sophisticated look together.
As Her Majesty beamed while waving enthusiastically to the crowds, Macron offered her a friendly and tactile greeting by lightly touching her back – before slowly moving behind her to greet Brigitte.
The French President and his wife were then seen holding hands as they entered the Museum, with Charles, 77, and Camilla walking ahead towards the historic opening.
Macron’s fond display of affection towards Camilla showcased the strength of Anglo-French relations and the significance of the tapestry’s arrival following years of negotiations.
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Emmanuel Macron’s Gallic charm appeared to get the better of him on Wednesday, as the French President showcased his fond affection for Queen Camilla with a tactile greeting
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In a rather poignant show of how fond relations truly are between the two nations, video footage showed Macron warmly placing a hand on Camilla’s back as the two couples arrived at the landmark Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition
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As Her Majesty beamed while waving enthusiastically to the crowds, Macron offered her a friendly and tactile greeting by lightly touching her back – before slowly moving behind her to greet Brigitte
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Taking to Instagram to share footage of the historic day, the Royal Family thanked France for the ‘historic loan’ and ‘for the latest magical stitch in a story that has bound our two nations together through history’.
During the unveiling, the King described the tapestry as a powerful reminder of the enduring ties between the two countries.
‘The tapestry’s story is one of ambition and uncertainty, of oaths and journeys, of ships, councils, kings, comets and consequences,’ he said.
He added: ‘Yet it is not merely an English story, nor only a Norman one. Indeed, from the moment of its creation, it may have brought together our two peoples: commissioned in Normandy, yet most likely to have been embroidered in Canterbury by English craftspeople.’
And in a pointed reference to the modern world, the King said: ‘The Bayeux Tapestry – or the Canterbury Embroidery as it might just have been called – recounts a conflict, yet here it is today, nearly a thousand years later, as a precious symbol of trust, at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations.’
Charles, who spoke in both English and French, also said: ‘We have defended our values together in times of peril; we continue to do so today across the world.’
He concluded: ‘Monsieur le Président, Madame Macron, Ladies and Gentlemen, may this Tapestry – and the treasures that will travel in return – stand as symbols not only of our shared past, but our shared future: a future woven, as it should be, by Britain and France together.’
Charles and Emmanual arrived together at the museum in the State Bentley, while Camilla and Brigette followed behind in another car.
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King Charles and Camilla accompanied Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for the historic unveiling of the Bayeux Tapestry at London’s British Museum yesterday
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Camilla appeared effortlessly elegant in an Anna Valentine white dress, which she paired with a Dior bag and Chanel suede satin pumps. Brigette, meanwhile, opted for an all-white midi dress with matching heels to tie the sophisticated look together
They were welcomed by Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel before being joined by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, France’s culture minister and Sir Thomas Drew, Britain’s ambassador to France.
Emmanuel and Mr Burnham appeared particularly at ease as they chatted and at times put their arms around each other, while Ms van Heel spoke French with Mrs Macron.
Inside the Salisbury Exhibition Gallery, the party was taken through the exhibition by museum director Dr Nicholas Cullinan, chairman George Osborne and curators Michael Lewis and Sue Brunning.
They walked the entire length of the embroidery, stopping to examine some of its most famous scenes depicting the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Among them was the depiction of Harold’s coronation before his death at Hastings, traditionally understood to show an arrow striking him in the eye.
Charles paused at the famous scene and asked: ‘Where exactly is Harold? The arrow is quite faint, isn’t it?’
The King also asked about the extraordinary operation required to bring the ancient textile to Britain.
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Macron’s fond display of affection towards Camilla showcased the strength of Anglo-French relations, and indicated the significance of the tapestry’s arrival in the UK following years of negotiations
It took 18 hours to transport the tapestry across the Channel to its temporary home, with the artwork subject to stringent precautions because of its age and delicacy.
‘It’s very well insured,’ Charles joked to Mr Macron.
Mr Osborne thanked the French president for making the loan possible, telling him: ‘Thank you, really, so much, for making this happen.’
Emmanuel replied: ‘It took a few years to deliver, but we got there.’
The French president also delivered a speech lasting more than ten minutes in English and French, recalling how he had first discussed bringing the tapestry to Britain during a visit to Sandhurst in 2018.
‘It has required a little patience, then again, one does not move an artwork nearly a thousand years old lightly,’ he said.
‘But since the first British request dates back to 1931, I choose to regard eight years as something of a speed record.’
The French president also praised the relationship between the two countries, recalling the ‘entente cordiale’ referred to by Charles during his State Dinner at Windsor Castle last year.
He highlighted the artwork’s likely English origins and joked that British influence had even extended to the grounds of the French presidential palace.
‘Even the Elysee garden is in the English style, but it will remain between us,’ he said.
Mr Macron also praised Britain’s role in Nato and the G7, before turning to Mr Burnham’s first overseas visit as Prime Minister, to Ukraine.
‘That mattered,’ he said.
He ended by describing the tapestry as a symbol of an Anglo-French alliance that was ‘always closer and together’, declaring: ‘Long live culture’.
