# Osborne admits Thiel visit was meant to stay hidden

> The British Museum chair says he thought no one would discover the private Bayeux tapestry viewing he arranged for the PayPal founder.
- Title: Osborne admits Thiel visit was meant to stay hidden | Shortify
- Summary: The British Museum chair says he thought no one would discover the private Bayeux tapestry viewing he arranged for the PayPal founder. George Osborne, chair…
- Keywords: george osborne, british museum, peter thiel, bayeux tapestry, palantir, private viewing, museum funding, news, world, Osborne, admits, Thiel
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/19/george-osborne-peter-thiel-bayeux-tapestry-visit
- Published: 2026-09-19T15:41:39+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: george osborne, british museum, peter thiel, bayeux tapestry, palantir, private viewing, museum funding, news, world
## Secret viewing at the museum
George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, arranged a private Bayeux tapestry viewing for tech billionaire Peter Thiel before it opened to the public on August eighteenth.
## Who is Peter Thiel?
Thiel founded PayPal and Palantir, a software company building data integration and AI platforms for government agencies and corporations. He supports Donald Trump.
## Palantir's controversial contracts
Palantir holds a three hundred thirty million pound NHS contract since twenty twenty-three and works for US, Israeli and UK militaries. Its AI software supports military strikes and immigration raids.
## Osborne expected secrecy
At the Big Brue festival in Somerset, Osborne said of the viewing: "It wasn't like we expected anyone to know about it." The Guardian revealed the visit shortly after it happened.

> It wasn't like we expected anyone to know about it.
## No money offered yet
Osborne said Thiel has not offered any donation. If he did, the board would weigh the income against reputational risks before deciding.
## Gaza protests dominate
Osborne said the museum faces constant Gaza-related protests over donors' Israeli government ties. He argued the museum is not the Foreign Office and must take corporate money to stay free.
## Museums need funding or close
Osborne defended taking fifty million pounds from BP, saying museums cannot operate without corporate money. Rejecting all controversial donors would force closure.
## Key takeaway

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, admitted he expected the private Bayeux tapestry viewing he organised for tech billionaire Peter Thiel to remain secret.