France's medieval Bayeux Tapestry will be moved to Britain in secret in a shock proof container so that it can be displayed in London this year, the culture minister said Wednesday.
The 11th century artefact depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England is to go on display at the British Museum from September and French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard said all possible precautions will be taken to protect it.
Normally on display in the northern French town of Bayeux, President Emmanuel Macron agreed a loan to celebrate cross-Channel relations.
Some experts have however voiced concern about possible damage to the 70-metre embroidery, which already has over 24,000 stains, 9,000 holes and 30 tears.
But Pégard said she had "found the insinuations of incompetence that some have tried to spread particularly unfair".
