Lord Mayor of London

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayor of the City of London and head of the Corporation of London. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London governs a much larger area known as Greater London. Within the City of London, the Lord Mayor has precedence over other individuals and has various special powers, rights and privileges.

Rights and privileges

The residence of the Lord Mayor is known as Mansion House. The creation of the residence was considered after the Great Fire of London (1666), but construction did not commence until 1739. It was first occupied by a Lord Mayor in 1752, when Sir Crispin Gascoigne took up his residence in it.

Related Topics:
Mansion House - Great Fire of London - 1666 - 1739 - 1752 - Sir Crispin Gascoigne

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It is sometimes asserted that the Lord Mayor may exclude the Sovereign from the City of London. The legend is based on the misinterpretation of the ceremony observed each time the Sovereign enters the City. At Temple Bar the Lord Mayor presents the City's pearl-encrusted Sword of State to the Sovereign as a symbol of the of the latter's overlordship. The Sovereign does not, as is often purported, wait for the Lord Mayor's permission to enter the City.

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The importance of the office is reflected by the composition of the Accession Council, a body which proclaims the accession of new Sovereigns. The Council includes the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, as well as the Lords Spiritual, Lords Temporal and Privy Counsellors. At the coronation banquet which followed, the Lord Mayor of London had the right to assist the royal butler. The same privilege is held by the Lord Mayor of Oxford; the Lord Mayor of Winchester may assist the royal cook. Such privileges have not been exercised since 1821, when the last coronation banquet (commemorating the coronation of George IV) was held.

Related Topics:
Accession Council - Aldermen - Lords Spiritual - Lords Temporal - Privy Counsellors - Coronation banquet - Lord Mayor of Oxford - Lord Mayor of Winchester - 1821 - George IV

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The Lord Mayor of London is entitled to wear the Collar of SS, a chain of 28 golden emblems, each in the shape of the letter S (the reason for which is unclear). It is believed that the Collar now used by the Lord Mayor once belonged to Sir Thomas More, and was seized from him upon his execution in 1535. The only other civic officers who may wear Collars of SS are the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Kings and Heralds of Arms, and Serjeants-at-Arms.

Related Topics:
S - Thomas More - 1535 - Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales - Kings and Heralds of Arms - Serjeants-at-Arms

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