In an opulent display of British tradition, President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron are currently in the United Kingdom for a much-anticipated state visit, the first by a French leader since Nicolas Sarkozy's visit nearly two decades ago. The visit, characterized by royal pomp and pageantry, has seen Macron riding a horse-drawn carriage alongside British King Charles, walking down a crimson carpet in an elegant navy suit, and preparing for an honorary banquet at Windsor Castle later today.
The visit aims to reinforce ties between the two nations, particularly focusing on pressing issues such as the situation in Ukraine and ongoing challenges with migrant crossings. A symbolic act of their cooperation has been the agreement to lend the renowned Bayeux Tapestry — an iconic 230-foot embroidery depicting the Norman Conquest of England — to the British Museum next year. This exchange not only signifies a cultural connection but also leads to France borrowing historic artifacts, including the Lewis chessmen and treasures from Sutton Hoo, a significant archaeological find from the Anglo-Saxon era.
During his address to the British Parliament on Tuesday, Macron humorously reflected on the long negotiations surrounding the Bayeux Tapestry, noting that the task took "probably more years to deliver that project than all the Brexit texts," highlighting both the serious and lighthearted aspects of international relations.
