In a historic break with over eight centuries of tradition, the City of London's famous annual procession will this year be known as the Lady Mayor's Show. This landmark change accompanies the inauguration of Dame Susan Langley DBE, who becomes the 697th Lord Mayor of London but the first to officially adopt the title of 'Lady Mayor'.
A New Chapter in an Ancient Tradition
Dame Susan Langley, a 62-year-old born in London's East End, was elected to the role, succeeding Alderman Alastair King. While she is the third woman to hold the position, she is the first to insist on the title change for the accompanying show. Speaking to the BBC, Dame Susan explained her reasoning: 'This role has hundreds of years of tradition, it goes back to 1189, and tradition is brilliant. But we also need to gently flex.'
She further elaborated, 'There have been two previous female lord mayors, out of 696, and I will be the 697th. But I will be the first to take the name 'lady mayor' and to be honest it never occurred to me to be anything else. I'm not a lord, I'm a lady, that's just who I am.'
The Grand Spectacle of the Lady Mayor's Show
The Mayor's Show is one of the world's oldest civic processions, with origins dating back to 1215. It began when King John permitted the City of London to elect its own mayor and decreed that each new mayor must travel to Westminster to swear an oath of loyalty.
This year's event promises to be a spectacular sight. The procession is over three miles long and will feature more than 125 organisations and thousands of participants. Dame Susan is expected to wear the traditional red robes and black feathered hat before boarding the golden state coach, which was first used in 1757.
The route will begin at the Lord Mayor's official residence, Mansion House, at 11am. It will then proceed to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, pass by St Paul's Cathedral and Temple, before returning to Mansion House by 2.40pm. Organisers anticipate that more than 350,000 people will line the streets to watch the historic parade.
The Woman Making History
Dame Susan's journey to this pivotal role began in Whitechapel. She grew up in West Ham and Hornchurch, attending local schools before building a successful career in business and civic leadership. Her political journey within the City of London Corporation started in 2018 when she was elected to represent Aldgate Ward on the Court of Aldermen. She most recently served as the Sheriff of the City of London for 2023/24.
Expressing her honour at the election, Dame Susan said, 'I'm deeply honoured to have been elected to this office, and to be leading the first ever Lady Mayor's Show. To see so many people join the parade is an extraordinary moment, one that celebrates the City's long-standing traditions and puts the spotlight on so many of the good causes that we support.'
She added, 'To be part of this historic procession, riding through the streets of the Square Mile in the State Coach, and to enjoy the Show's amazing atmosphere with everyone else, will be really unforgettable!'
Looking ahead to her mayoralty, she committed to strengthening London's global leadership, supporting business growth, and ensuring the City continues to make a positive social impact. She also hopes to demonstrate to the next generation that the City is a fantastic place to both live and work.
