Last Updated on 09/02/2026
From as early as the year 1189 there are references to the title of Mayor as the chief officer of the City of London. The courtesy title of Lord Mayor developed over time and has never been granted by charter or any other formal instrument. The Latin term dominus maior appears in the thirteenth century and the English form Lord Mair is recorded in an enrolment of 1414. The Lord Mayor is also entitled to the prefix Right Honourable, a style of address that came into use during the fifteenth century.
The Lord Mayor summons and presides over the several Courts and meetings of the Corporation – the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common Council and the Court of Husting – and assemblies of the Livery in Common Hall. These bodies cannot meet without the Lord Mayor’s direction and the Lord Mayor has full authority over the business placed before them. If the Lord Mayor is unable to attend, a locum tenens may be appointed in writing under hand and seal, and this must be an Alderman who has already served in the Chair. The Lord Mayor also acts as one of the custodians of the City Seal and the Hospital Seal.
The election of the Lord Mayor takes place on Michaelmas Day, the twenty ninth of September, unless this falls on a weekend. Before Common Hall, at around ten thirty in the morning, the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, the Aldermen, the High Officers, the Masters, Prime Wardens, Upper Bailiff and the Livery Committee proceed to the Guild Church of Saint Lawrence Jewry for a service that is ordinarily open to the public.
At the close of the service, the Lord Mayor and the civic procession return to the Aldermen’s Court Room, while the Masters, Prime Wardens and Upper Bailiff, followed by the Livery Committee, return to Guildhall. By around eleven thirty, these groups process into the Great Hall where the Livery Committee and the Masters and Prime Wardens of the twelve senior Companies take their places on the Hustings, with others seated in the rows below.
At eleven forty, the Lord Mayor and procession enter and Common Hall is opened by the Common Cryer and Serjeant at Arms. The proceedings of the previous Common Hall are read by the Assistant Town Clerk. The Recorder of London then addresses the Livery and afterwards the Lord Mayor, the senior Aldermen, the Recorder, the Town Clerk, the City Marshall and the Swordbearer withdraw to the Print Room.
The Sheriffs, accompanied by the Common Serjeant, then advance to the front of the Hustings. The Common Serjeant reads the names of the Aldermen below the Chair who have previously served as Sheriff. The Livery are informed that from these names they are to return two to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, who will then select which one will serve as Lord Mayor for the coming year. Voting then proceeds.
If no poll is demanded, the junior Aldermen, the principal Officers, the two Sheriffs, the Common Serjeant, the Common Cryer and the Serjeant at Arms leave for the Print Room. The Assistant Town Clerk addresses the Livery in their absence. Meanwhile, a ballot is held among the Aldermen in the Print Room to decide the two names to be returned. The Recorder and the Common Serjeant count the votes and the Town Clerk records the result.
The Recorder then declares the outcome in the Great Hall. The Lord Mayor and the entire procession return and the Lord Mayor Elect addresses Common Hall. A Resolution of Thanks to the Lord Mayor and to the outgoing Sheriffs is passed. Common Hall is then dissolved by the Common Cryer and Serjeant at Arms with the words “God save the King”, and the Livery respond, “God save the King”. The Lord Mayor and procession leave the Great Hall, followed by the Livery Committee and the senior representatives of the Companies who return to the Crypts to remove their gowns. All others are then free to depart.
