French President Emmanuel Macron told the King and the Prime Minister that it has been a “happy end, we’re here” after a tour of the Bayeux Tapestry in London.
In a public display of warm Anglo-French relations, Charles, Camilla, Mr Macron and Andy Burnham walked the length of the 70-metre masterpiece at the British Museum on Wednesday evening.
They were joined by France’s first lady Brigitte Macron and Mr Burnham’s wife Marie-France van Heel.
In the dark exhibition space, the three men and their wives shared laughter and peered down at the woven record of the Norman conquest, listening intently to curators.
At the end of their walk, it was pointed out to them that a further 1,000 years of history are not included in the work.
The Prime Minister joked to Mr Macron, who was standing beside the King: “Made in England, they couldn’t bear to show the end… too difficult.”
The French president smiled and replied “happy end, we’re here”, prompting a laugh from Charles.
During the visit, the King also pointed out his favourite portion of the tapestry to Mr Macron.
Before their arrival, Great Russell Street was lined with members of the public waiting to catch a glimpse of the leaders.
Mr Burnham waved to a crowd of journalists as he and Mrs van Heel, wearing a white dress, exited their car shortly before 6pm to wait for their companions.
About 10 minutes later, to cheers from onlookers, the King and Mr Macron drove up in one car and Camilla and the first lady, both also in white dresses, in another.
The director of the British Museum, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, and the museum’s chairman, George Osborne, welcomed them.
They all walked up the museum’s grand stairs and were greeted by Mr Burnham and his wife in its Western Great Hall.
The French president stayed close to the King’s side as they spoke to politicians from both sides of the Channel, while Mr Burnham hung back, chatting with other attendees.
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