THE National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is to loan Admiral Nelson’s uniform to the Musee de l’Armee in Paris.

It will be one of the key items on display at the museum’s Napoleon et l’Europe exhibition.

The naval-commander was wearing the garments before being fatally wounded aboard HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Nelson was shot through the shoulder by a marksman in the mizzen top of the French ship Redoubtable and a bullet hole in the coat can be seen showing where he was shot, along with blood stains on the tails and sleeves.

This will be the first time the historic garment has left Britain since returning from the great battle in 1805.

It will return the National Maritime Museum in October as part of the museum’s new Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery.

The gallery focuses on how the Royal Navy shaped British history over the turbulent eighteenth century.