Macron visits Bayeux Tapestry with King Charles, PM Andy Burnham

French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day trip to the UK by visiting another famous new arrival from France, the Bayeux Tapestry, with King Charles III and Prime Minister Andy Burnham .

Macron and his wife Brigitte, and Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel joined King Charles and Queen Camilla to walk the length of the 70-meter tapestry in the British Museum.

Charles hailed the "unprecedented loan" as a "precious symbol of trust" between the UK and France, while Macron said the two countries were "as close as the threads" in the artwork.

The tapestry, which depicts the momentous events of 1066 culminating in William the Conqueror of Normandy claiming the English throne, is on temporary loan from its usual home in France. It's the first time it's touched British soil since its creation in the 11th century.

The embroidery is on loan for a 10-month exhibiton opening to the public next week, on September 10. The exchange was first announced during Macron's state visit last year.

Though it's thought to have been made in the British Isles, it had been on French soil ever since the 11th century. It's usually on show in Bayeux in Normandy in northern France, hence the name. The effectively priceless artefact was transited across the Channel in secret in July .

Prime Minister Burnham, who took office six weeks ago, called the tapestry's return "a landmark moment" in the history of the two countries.

He also hailed ties with Macron's French government more generally in the House of Commons on Wednesday, alluding to reduced illegal migration crossings of the English Channel — a bid to counter one of Reform UK's favorite summer talking points.