lord mayor's show

The Lord Mayor’s Show: Tradition Meets Modern Day in a Grand London Parade

Lord mayor’s show: Saturday, November 9, the annual Lord Mayor’s Show will bring London to life with a colorful three-mile procession through the City. Alistair King, the 696th elected Lord Mayor, officially begins his role in a parade full of history this year.

Alistair King will ride in a 1757-era horse-drawn state carriage. King leads 7,000 people, 250 horses, and 150 floats—representing London’s rich history and diverse communities—in traditional red robes, a feathered hat, and a golden chain.

The Lord Mayor’s Show began in 1215 when the City’s mayor came to Westminster to swear loyalty to the Crown. With the show on the second Saturday in November since 1959, Londoners can enjoy the festivities without disrupting their workweek.

Beyond the ceremony, the Lord Mayor isn’t symbolic. Alistair King uses his position to promote British financial and professional services worldwide. He plans to visit high-growth markets worldwide as the “global ambassador” for these sectors, promoting UK trade and job creation.

The show is a unique blend of tradition and celebration. The parade draws crowds with historical floats and modern representations of UK-essential industries. A symbol of the past, the Lord Mayor’s state carriage has centuries-old design and luxurious details.

London’s diversity helps its global business reach, as Saturday’s parade shows. King hopes to use Londoners’ ties to Indonesia to strengthen connections and understand different markets in global business ventures.

On November 9, this year’s procession returns to its roots. To encourage public participation, the Lord Mayor’s Show was moved to Saturdays from Mondays in 1959 due to city work schedules.

BBC One airs this grand celebration at 10:45 AM GMT, or iPlayer replays it. A spectacular display of history, culture, and tradition in the heart of London awaits you at the Lord Mayor’s Show.

Mangesh Wakchaure is a veteran writer working at London Lens, focusing on foreign news coverage on a range of topics.