Bayeux Tapestry fans are turned away by British Museum in favour of private gala dinner attended by Chancellor John Healey
Ticketholders to the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum were turned away without advance warning this week when the museum closed early to host a private Samsung gala dinner attended by Chancellor John Healey and Princess Anne. The incident has sparked considerable criticism from hundreds of disappointed visitors who had queued and paid £50 each to see the almost 1,000-year-old embroidery, many of whom had travelled internationally specifically for this once-in-a-generation exhibition.
The museum had pre-planned to close from 4pm with timed entry tickets sold until 3:10pm, but visitors were handed printed notices citing 'space and time restrictions' without prior notification. Those turned away included international visitors who had queued for 45 minutes or longer, with one woman noting she had waited since childhood to view the tapestry. The disruption compounds existing problems plaguing the exhibition, including chaotic queues and an accessibility dispute in which a blind visitor has threatened legal action after the museum declined to prioritise audio-described tours.
- Hundreds turned away from Bayeux Tapestry exhibition for private Samsung gala.
- Chancellor John Healey and Princess Anne attended the museum event.
- Exhibition has been plagued by long queues and accessibility issues.
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The Bayeux Tapestry is an almost 1,000-year-old embroidery that chronicles the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It is one of the world's most celebrated historical artefacts and rarely travels for public exhibition, making its current presence at the British Museum a significant cultural event.
The exhibition has drawn large crowds of visitors prepared to pay £50 for timed-entry access, with many having travelled internationally to see the tapestry in person. The display has been marked by high demand and challenges including queue management and accessibility concerns raised by disabled visitors.
Samsung sponsors the exhibition as part of a corporate partnership with the museum. The sponsorship arrangement includes various events hosted by the company at the institution.