ByIan Youngs

Culture reporter

Power struggles, betrayal and bloody battles - these are the events shown in great detail in the Bayeux Tapestry, covering one of the most momentous periods in English history.

The artefact, almost 1,000 years old, is a 70m-long storyboard of embroidered pictures showing an epic account of the Norman conquest and the Battle of Hastings of 1066.

It depicts a medieval game of thrones as William the Conqueror fought King Harold to rule England.

The tapestry has returned to England for the first time in more than 900 years, and will go on display at the British Museum.

Here's the story in five key scenes, helped by Dr David Musgrove, co-author of The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry and content director of HistoryExtra magazine and podcast.

1. William honours heroic Harold

The tapestry begins in 1064 or 65, when Harold, the most powerful earl in England and brother-in-law of king Edward the Confessor, is sent to Normandy, now in northern France.

Harold joins William, duke of Normandy, in battle in Brittany, and is portrayed in a positive light for the first half of the tapestry.

"He's being given arms and armaments by Duke William, and this is really important because the subtext of the first half of the tapestry is essentially to present Harold as a heroic figure," Dr Musgrove explains.

2. Harold's anguished oath

The most important scene in the tapestry, according to Dr Musgrove, shows Harold reaching both arms out to touch two boxes of holy relics while making an oath.

He's thought to be swearing allegiance to William as Edward's successor as king of England.

"He actually looks physically contorted and conflicted," Dr Musgrove says. "At least that's my take on it. He looks as if he's kind of a bit anguished about having to make this oath."

Dr Musgrove adds: "This scene is basically where Harold goes from hero in the first part to zero in the second part."

3. Harold claims the throne

Back in England, Edward the Confessor dies in January 1066 - and Harold claims the throne for himself.

"So he's gone against this supposed oath, and this is where he becomes the villain of the piece. This is a really important moment."

4. An omen of doom

The appearance in the sky of Halley's Comet, which is only visible from Earth roughly every 75 years, is regarded as a bad omen following Harold's alleged betrayal.

"You can see all the people staring up and pointing at it," Dr Musgrove says.

"That is basically saying, 'Something's gone wrong here, Harold having himself crowned is going to lead to a bad result.' And that is what happens."

5. Harold defeated by an arrow in the eye (probably)

William amasses a mighty army to fight Harold for the crown, and the two sides meet at the Battle of Hastings.

Harold is shot in the eye by an arrow, which he is seen clutching in his final moments.

"This is the most famous scene in the tapestry," Dr Musgrove says.

The caption reads "Here King Harold is killed" - and the English army flee in defeat after their leader's death.

At least, that's the most famous version of events. But there's debate about whether the arrow was actually in the original version of the tapestry or added during a 19th Century restoration.

There's also disagreement about whether the figure is even Harold, or whether the inscription refers to a neighbouring figure who is slain by a soldier on horseback - or if they both in fact show Harold at different moments.

"It's undeniable that Harold is dead - the text says it - but the manner of his death is somewhat debated," Dr Musgrove says.

Either way, it was a graphic and dramatic climax to a period that changed the course of English history.

The Bayeux Tapestry will be on display at the British Museum from 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027.