Key facts
- George Osborne believed a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry for Peter Thiel at the British Museum would be secret.
- Osborne is the chair of the British Museum.
- Peter Thiel is the founder of PayPal and Palantir.
- Palantir has contracts with UK government agencies, including the NHS, and works with militaries.
- The viewing occurred before the tapestry opened to the public on August 18.
- Osborne stated Thiel has not offered any money to the museum.
George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum and former UK Chancellor, has stated that he believed a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry for tech billionaire Peter Thiel would remain undisclosed. Osborne made the comments at the Big Brue festival in Somerset.
Thiel, a supporter of Donald Trump and founder of PayPal and Palantir, was shown the medieval artwork before it opened to the public on August 18. Palantir, a software company that provides data integration, analytics, and AI platforms, holds significant British public contracts, including a £330 million deal with the NHS since 2023, and also works with the US, Israeli, and UK militaries. Concerns have been raised about Palantir's use of its AI software to support military actions and its access to sensitive data.
Osborne remarked that the museum did not expect the visit to become public knowledge. He also addressed potential donations, stating that Thiel had not offered any money, but any future offer would be considered by the board, balancing increased income against reputational risks. Osborne drew parallels between protests at the museum concerning donors and the Foreign Office, noting that protests have shifted from climate activism to issues like the Gaza conflict. He emphasized the financial necessity of accepting donations from companies like BP, arguing that rejecting such funds would lead to the museum's closure.