British Museum Refunds Bayeux Tapestry Visitors After Early Closure for Princess Anne Reception

The British Museum is refunding Bayeux Tapestry visitors it turned away mid-day on Wednesday, October 1, to prepare for a gala dinner attended by Chancellor John Healey and a reception attended by Princess Anne.

The museum hosted the dinner with its long-term corporate sponsor Samsung to celebrate the "Korea" exhibition, which opened Thursday. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also attended the dinner, while Princess Anne attended the pre-dinner reception, according to The Telegraph.

"Unfortunately, delays earlier in the day meant that some visitors were unable to enter at their allotted time. We have apologized to those affected and giving a refund as well as rescheduling their ticket for free. This was an isolated situation and we appreciate visitors' patience and understanding," a British Museum spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition has seen unprecedented demand and that the museum's "priority is to enable as many people to see it as possible, while maintaining our commitment to the best possible visitor experience."

Is this the first favoritism complaint at the museum?

No. In August, The Guardian reported that the museum privately hosted billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel, founder of Palantir, for a VIP viewing of the tapestry. Charlotte Appleyard, the museum's director of development, hosted the visit on August 18.

September has been a busy month for the institution. The sold-out Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opened to swarms of crowds — and to complaints from visitors and lawsuits.

What legal action has the exhibition faced?

Earlier this week, a blind man filed a lawsuit against the museum over a lack of audio guides at the exhibition.

A museum spokesman said the institution is exploring "a separate audio-described tour as part of the exhibition's app-based audio guide."

The refunds and free rescheduling mark the museum's latest attempt to rectify its missteps as demand for the 11th-century embroidery continues to outstrip the visitor experience the museum says it is committed to delivering.