King Charles spoke of the close bond between France and Britain as he visited the Bayeux Tapestry with President Emmanuel Macron in London on Wednesday.
But it was his wife, Queen Camilla, who gave the clearest indicator of the warmth between the two nations with a sweet, unprompted gesture towards First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The two couples attended a special viewing of the famous embroidered masterpiece at the British Museum in London. It is the first time it has returned to the UK in more than 900 years.
The medieval tapestry - which depicts the Battle of Hastings of 1066 - will be on display at the British Museum from next week. But Charles and Camilla were delighted to have a preview of the nearly 70-metre-long embroidery, with the Macrons by their side.
Caring Camilla
Of course, cameras were there to capture the historic moment - and they also recorded a touching moment between Queen Camilla and Brigitte.
The two ladies twinned in matching white ensembles, with Camilla donning a dress from Anna Valentine, one of her favourite designers, and Madame Macron opting for a chic structured midi dress.
She wore vertiginous heels - a fact noticed by the Queen, who kindly held Brigitte's hand as they made their way down the steps of the British Museum following their private viewing.
Before heading to see the tapestry, the King and Queen had welcomed the Macrons for afternoon tea at Clarence House, the King’s London residence. The French President shared a glimpse behind the scenes at the event, posting a photo with the caption: "Entente amicale, over tea."
"Entente amicale"
King Charles delivered a speech at the British Museum, in which he spoke partly in French. He said the loan of the Bayeux tapestry was "the best possible symbol" of the "entente amicale" between France and the UK.
© Getty ImagesHe added that while the tapestry depicts a conflict, "here it is today, nearly 1,000 years later, as a precious symbol of trust, at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations".
Charles’s reference to "entente amicale" followed his use of the phrase to rebrand the famous "entente cordiale" between the two nations in his banquet speech at Windsor Castle when he hosted the Macrons in July last year.
Macron, also speaking in French and English, said that the return of the tapestry "had required a little patience".
© Alamy Stock Photo"Since the first British request dates back to 1931, I choose to regard eight years as something of a speed record," he said.
He added that, with the tapestry in Britain, his hopes were that the two countries could "forge a bond as close as the threads of this thousand-year-old embroidery".
Historic return
The tapestry has returned to the UK for the first time in almost 1,000 years, and is being loaned to the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
© Getty ImagesDr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum, said: "The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations.
"It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000 years ago. To encounter the tapestry in person is to feel history in a way no reproduction or textbook can ever really quite capture, a sense of absolute awe."
