The British Museum privately hosted a viewing of the Bayeux tapestry for Peter Thiel, the billionaire founder of Palantir Technologies, on August 18, prior to the public opening of the exhibition. The event was organised by Charlotte Appleyard, the museum’s director of development, and took place in the gallery space dedicated to the tapestry, which is currently being prepared for public display. The 70-metre-long Bayeux tapestry, loaned from France, is scheduled to be on public view in London from September 10, 2026, until July 11, 2027.
A museum source confirmed the visit after inquiries, stating that George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, was aware of the private viewing but did not attend. The museum reportedly exercised caution given the potential public perception of preferential treatment, especially considering Thiel’s controversial public profile and business connections. Some staff expressed concern that the viewing used “lux hours”—a measure combining light intensity and exposure time to safeguard the delicate tapestry—which are limited to protect the artefact from damage. However, museum officials stated that no light hours allocated for public visitors were used for this private viewing.
Peter Thiel is known for founding Palantir, a software company that develops data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence platforms, primarily for government agencies and corporations. Palantir holds several public contracts in the United Kingdom, including a £330 million deal with the National Health Service (NHS) secured in 2023. The company also supplies technology to militaries in the US, Israel, and the UK. Palantir’s role in military operations in Gaza and Iran, immigration enforcement in the US, and its handling of NHS data have sparked public controversy and political scrutiny.
Last month, a parliamentary committee urged the Labour Party to cancel Palantir’s NHS contract, citing “serious mistrust” from the public and healthcare professionals regarding the system. The committee also questioned the evidence of the technology’s benefits and noted the availability of alternative tools. In May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50 million contract award to Palantir by the Metropolitan Police, emphasising the importance of aligning public funds with companies reflecting the city's values. Palantir has since challenged the decision in the high court.
Thiel’s political and social activities add further complexity to his public image. He is a prominent supporter of former US President Donald Trump and influential in conservative political circles, including backing Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. Recently, he attracted media attention for a series of lectures discussing apocalyptic themes and political philosophy.
Controversy also relates to Thiel’s past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Documents and reports indicate that Thiel maintained contact with Epstein for several years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, including meetings and lunches from around 2014 onward. Epstein’s Southern Trust Company invested approximately $40 million in a venture fund co-founded by Thiel, and correspondence from 2018 shows Epstein inviting Thiel to visit him in the Caribbean. Thiel has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island and there is no evidence linking him to Epstein’s criminal activities.
Thiel and Palantir have been approached for comment regarding the British Museum viewing and other related matters. Meanwhile, public interest in the Bayeux tapestry remains high, with online queues for tickets reported to have reached up to nine hours when sales opened on July 1, attracting tens of thousands of potential visitors.