For the first time in its more than 800-year history, the City of London’s Lord Mayor’s Show will become the Lady Mayor’s Show.
Although she is not the first female lord mayor, Dame Susan Langley DBE is the first to take the lady mayor title.
The 62-year-old, born in London’s East End, was elected as the 697th Lord Mayor of London, succeeding Alderman Alastair King.
She becomes the third female mayor, but the first to insist that this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show changes its name to the Lady Mayor’s Show.
Dating back to the 13th century, the Mayor’s Show is one of the oldest civic processions, with over 125 organisations and thousands of people taking part in the parade, which is more than three miles long.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: ‘This role has hundreds of years of tradition, it goes back to 1189, and tradition is brilliant. But we also need to gently flex.
‘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.’
Although she is not the first female lord mayor, Dame Susan Langley DBE is the first to take the lady mayor title
Dame Susan, the first Lady Mayor of the City of London, waves from the State Coach
Dating back to the 13th century, the Mayor’s Show is one of the oldest civic processions, with over 125 organisations and thousands of people taking part in the parade
Performers take part during the Lady Mayor’s Show in the City of London
For the first time in its more than 800-year history, the City of London’s Lord Mayor’s Show will become the Lady Mayor’s Show
ASEAN Ambassadors and International Ladies during the Lady Mayor’s Show in the City of London
Dame Susan, the first Lady Mayor of the City of London, pictured in the State Coach
Andrien Meyers and Dame Susan arrive at Guildhall
Marching bands, livery companies, representatives of the three armed forces and youth organisations from across the world joined the 7,000-strong march
The Lord Mayor’s Show is the world’s oldest civic procession and started after King John allowed the City of London to appoint its own mayor in 1215
Performers take part during the Lady Mayor’s Show in the City of London
Military cadets take part in the procession, which is one of oldest in the world, dating back to the 13th century
A large blow up pig joins the procession in London
The restored hydroplane boat, Bluebird K7 in which Donald Campbell, died on January 4 1967 aged 45 when it flipped into the air and disintegrated as he attempted a new water speed record on Coniston Water in Cumbria, on a float
Pearly king and queens take part to the streets for the Lady Mayor’s Show
Members of the public line the streets as official from the British Armed Forces march through
The new Lady Mayor of London, Dame Susan in the State Coach passing through the streets of London
The annual show goes back to 1215, when King John, having allowed the City of London to appoint its own mayor in the forlorn hope of garnering support for his troubled reign, decreed that each new holder of the position should travel to Westminster and swear an oath of loyalty.
Dame Susan will don the traditional red robes and black feathered hat before boarding the golden state carriage first used in 1757 for the procession from Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence, to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.
The procession will start from Mansion House at 11am and will go to the Royal Courts, St Paul’s Cathedral, Temple before returning to Mansion House at 2.40pm with more than 350,000 people expected to line the streets.
Dame Susan was born in Whitechapel and grew up in West Ham and Hornchurch, attending school locally before going on to a successful career in business and civic leadership.
She was elected to represent Aldgate Ward on the Court of Aldermen, a committee which forms part of the City of London Corporation, in 2018 and then served as Sheriff of the City of London for 2023/24.
Dame Susan is sworn in as the 697th Lord Mayor of London, succeeding Alderman Alastair King, during the Silent Ceremony, held yesterday in the Great Hall of the Guildhall in the City of London
Dame Susan was born in Whitechapel and grew up in West Ham and Hornchurch, attending school locally before going on to a successful career in business and civic leadership
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 for the benefit of the City and the UK.
‘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!
‘During my mayoralty, I will work to strengthen London’s global leadership, support business growth, and ensure that the City continues to make a positive social impact, while, I hope, demonstrating to the next generation that the City is a great place to live and work in.’