Key facts
- Peter Thiel, founder of Palantir, was given a private viewing of the Bayeux tapestry at the British Museum on August 18.
- The viewing was hosted by Charlotte Appleyard, the museum's director of development.
- Concerns were raised by some museum staff regarding special treatment and the allocation of "lux hours" for the artifact.
- Palantir, Thiel's company, has controversial contracts with UK public bodies, including the NHS.
- Thiel has faced scrutiny over his past connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
Tech billionaire Peter Thiel, founder of Palantir, was granted a private viewing of the Bayeux tapestry at the British Museum on August 18. The event, hosted by the museum's director of development, Charlotte Appleyard, has raised concerns among some staff regarding special treatment and the allocation of limited "lux hours" for the sensitive artifact.
Sources at the museum confirmed the visit took place, with museum chair George Osborne reportedly aware of the viewing. Staff expressed worries about the public perception of providing preferential access to Thiel, given his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the controversial role of his software company, Palantir, in British public services.
Palantir, which builds data integration and AI platforms, holds significant UK public contracts, including a £330 million deal with the National Health Service (NHS) since 2023. The company's work for government agencies, including military and immigration services, has drawn criticism. A parliamentary committee recently urged the government to scrap Palantir's NHS contract due to public mistrust, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan previously blocked a £50 million contract for Palantir with the Metropolitan police.
Thiel himself has recently been in the news for philosophical discussions and his influence in US conservative politics. The Epstein files indicated that Thiel remained in contact with the financier for years after his 2008 conviction, with Epstein's company also investing approximately $40 million in a venture fund co-founded by Thiel.