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London lit up today in celebration of the city’s first Lady Mayor. Dame Susan Langley DBE has become the third woman to serve as Lord Mayor of the City of London, following 697 predecessors, but the first to adopt the title of Lady Mayor. The annual procession, which dates back to the early 13th century, saw the new Lord Mayor travel from the City to Westminster to swear an oath of allegiance today. It comes after she was elected last month and took office in the Silent Ceremony at the Great Hall of the Guildhall on Friday. Crowds lined the streets as marching bands, heritage vehicles and community groups took part in the historic 7,000-strong parade. Around 350,000 people came out to watch the parade, while millions more tuned in to watch from the comfort of their home. Musicians led the way through the city centre, followed by horse-drawn carriages and performers in brightly coloured costumes. Dame Susan, 62, was photographed waving a hat from the state coach as she travelled to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear an oath of allegiance to the sovereign. In 1215, King John granted that the City of London could choose its own mayor, but as part of his requirements, each newly elected mayor would travel upriver to Westminster and pledge his loyalty to the King. The mayor has been making the same journey for 800 years and the show has grown over the centuries into an elaborate parade. During the one-year term, the Lord or Lady Mayor of the City of London now operates as an international ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector, and also works closely with the Mayor of London. Dame Susan is the chairwoman of insurance broker Gallagher UK, was previously a lead non-executive director at the Home Office and received a damehood in 2023 for public service to the financial services industry. The east London-born mayor helped found the Women’s Business Council that advises Government on how to boost women’s contributions to economic growth. Most of the roads in the City of London area are closed each year for the show.
