British Museum hopes Princess Kate will be its patron after blockbuster success of Bayeux Tapestry

The British Museum is hoping to persuade the Princess of Wales to become its next royal patron.

Senior figures are said to see Catherine as the ideal figurehead as they make efforts to transform the museum's image from a dusty institution into one of London's most fashionable cultural destinations.

A keen photographer, she has long championed the arts and has been royal patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012.

Museum insiders believe the princess would provide a welcome touch of glamour as they build on the success of their blockbuster Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.

The Mail on Sunday understands the museum is drawing up plans for two events it hopes Catherine will be able to attend, potentially paving the way for a more permanent relationship in the future.

A well-placed source said: 'It would be the perfect partnership. They are keen to have her as patron. The Royal Family loves the British Museum and the British Museum loves the Royal Family.'

The Duke of Gloucester, 82, has been the museum's royal patron for 23 years and there is no suggestion of an abrupt change, or anything that would undermine his loyal support.

At the heart of plans to forge closer ties with the princess are former Chancellor George Osborne, who chairs the museum's board of trustees, and its director, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, who began an ambitious makeover when he joined in 2024.

Dr Cullinan, 48, already has an excellent working relationship with Catherine from his nine years running the National Portrait Gallery, which Catherine officially reopened in 2023 after a £35 million transformation, overseen by Dr Cullinan. Now he is attempting an even more ambitious reinvention of the British Museum.

Last Saturday's spectacular British Museum Ball, billed as 'London's answer to New York's Met Gala', showed how far that transformation has come, with Sir Mick Jagger, Benedict Cumberbatch and Maya Jama among the stars at the glittering fundraiser.

One of the evening's biggest talking points was a remarkable Hermione de Paula dress worn by Rosanna Konarzewski – the financier who helped bring the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain – that was inspired by the 230ft medieval masterpiece.

There are high hopes that the Princess of Wales might be able to take centre stage at a similar event next year.

One source said: 'There's so much happening at the British Museum at the moment.

'It's not been without its bumps in the road behind the scenes, but it's all been really exciting.

'The tapestry has been a huge success and they want to keep bringing it up to date and making it glamorous.

'Who better than Catherine to be the glamorous female face of the British Museum one day?'

There is no suggestion that the Duke of Gloucester – a trained architect who has devoted much of his royal career to supporting Britain's cultural and architectural heritage – is ready to relinquish his patronage, nor that Catherine has accepted an invitation to succeed him.

Sources suggest that if any transition were to go ahead, it would be managed discreetly and gradually. It could follow the example of Wimbledon, where the Duke of Kent continued to be president of the All England Club, while Catherine was a patron until she took over from him in 2021.

The King and Queen visited the museum last month to view the Bayeux Tapestry with French president Emmanuel Macron. It is understood Catherine will visit the exhibition soon.