THE British Museum will loan the Lewis Chessmen to France in exchange for the Bayeux Tapestry, set to return to England for the first time in more than 900 years.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce that the tapestry will arrive in the UK at the British Museum next year on loan from France.
In return, the British Museum will loan the Sutton Hoo collection, the Lewis Chessmen and other items to France.
The tapestry depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle Of Hastings, which saw William The Conqueror take the English throne from Harold Godwinson and become the first Norman king of England.
The 70-metre-long work, which is more than 900-years-old, has been on display in various locations across France during its history, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.
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