The Lord Mayor of the City of Lonon

I live in Chicago and the being the Mayor is a big deal. He has a great deal more power then the governor. London has two mayors. The actual Mayor of London is Boris Johnson and he is responsible for the governing of the city. The Lord Mayor of the City of London is a centuries old post (instituted in 1189) whose job it is to represent and promote the businesses and people of the City of London. This mayor is apolitical, giving them credibility at home and abroad as they represent the financial interests of London. They give hundreds of speeches and travel abroad frequently.


The post is elected annually at Michaelmas ‘Common Hall’. Michaelmas is the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel and is also delineates time and seasons in Great Britain for the Inns of Court and colleges. It begins in September and ends towards the end of December. Our U.S. Supreme Court follows this tradition by starting each new term on the first Monday of October. The Lord Mayor takes office on the Friday before the second Saturday in November at ‘The Silent Ceremony’. It’s called ‘The Silent Ceremony’ because no speeches are given. But they make up for it the next day when they hold the Lord Mayor’s Show. The newly elected Lord Mayor follows a procession and travels to the Royal Courts of Justice in a State Coach that was built in 1757 to swear allegiance to the Sovereign in front of the judges of the High Court. The procession consists of bands, members of the military, charities and schools. The Lord Mayor’s show with its mix of pageantry and carnival atmosphere make it a fun part of the year in London. The day is capped off with a fireworks display.


Photo by Rodolph de Salis
The Lord Mayor’s Show

The lucky lady who was elected to by Lord Mayor of the City of London for 2013 is Fiona Woolf who is a solicitor. This is a perk filled post, which allows the Lord Mayor the following rights:

The Lord Mayor gives the reigning monarch permission to enter the city of London. At Temple Bar the Lord Mayor presents the City’s pear-encrusted Sword of Sate to the Sovereign as a symbol fidelity to the crown.

He held the Sword of Mourning at Baroness Thatcher's Funeral and preceded HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip into St Paul's Cathedral.

Lord Mayor bears his/her mace at coronations.

The Lord Mayor is entitled to the style The Right Honourable.

At the Banquet following a coronation, the Lord Mayor of the City of London has the right to assist the royal butler. This privilege has not been exercised since 1821.

Since 1545 the lord mayor of London has worn a royal livery Collor of Esses.

The Lord Mayor gets to live at Mansion House.






As if all of this wasn’t enough, at the end they knight him/her! You can watch the Lord Mayor’s Show by following the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbvvW0i6-s