The exhibition

The exhibition Treasures of Tutankhamun was opened on 30 March 1972 by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

The public reaction to the exhibition was overwhelming. Originally scheduled to run for six months, the exhibition was extended until 30 December 1972 because of its popularity. It was open six and a half days per week, 10am – 9pm.

A total of 1,694,117 visitors saw the objects, over 7,000 per day. Every day, long queues of visitors stretched from the first floor galleries, where the exhibition was staged, back through the Museum, around the forecourt and colonnade and out onto the pavements.

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• 1 or Extra-large image

  Queen Elizabeth II meets Egyptian officials at the opening of the exhibition. Left to right: Margaret Hall (exhibition designer); Dr I E S Edwards (Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum); Dr Henry Riad (Director, the Egyptian Museum, Cairo); Dr Zaki Iskander (Director, Cairo Museum Laboratory), Dr Gamal Mukhtar (Under-Secretary of State for Antiquities).

  Queen Elizabeth II meets Egyptian officials at the opening of the exhibition. Left to right: Margaret Hall (exhibition designer); Dr I E S Edwards (Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum); Dr Henry Riad (Director, the Egyptian Museum, Cairo); Dr Zaki Iskander (Director, Cairo Museum Laboratory), Dr Gamal Mukhtar (Under-Secretary of State for Antiquities).

• 2 or Extra-large image

  The Queen and Egyptian officials inspect the gold mask.

  The Queen and Egyptian officials inspect the gold mask.

• 3 or Extra-large image

  Visitors queuing around the Museum forecourt.

  Visitors queuing around the Museum forecourt.

• 4 or Extra-large image

  Visitors queuing around the Museum forecourt.

  Visitors queuing around the Museum forecourt.

• 5 or Extra-large image

  Queuing in the Roman Britain gallery.

  Queuing in the Roman Britain gallery.

• 6 or Extra-large image

  Mobile sales kiosk for exhibition catalogues.

  Mobile sales kiosk for exhibition catalogues.

• 7 or Extra-large image

  Cover of the catalogue accompanying the exhibition.

  Cover of the catalogue accompanying the exhibition.