London’s Rich Tapestry of Diversity – The Lord Mayor’s Show
It’s been years since I last watched the Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London, and I regret not attending more often. The spectacle is everything the world ought to be — a vibrant carnival bursting with colour, energy, and the joyful spirit of diversity. It’s a powerful celebration of London’s dynamic character,
a city that thrives on its rich cultural mosaic - a long international history parts of which it must be admitted are a little sinister !
For years London had been trying to become a ‘commune’: a sort of early city state that would be able to declare its borders, make treaties and defend itself. King John may have thought it a smart move to go along with this, and in 1215 he issued a Royal Charter that established the commune and allowed the City to choose its own Mayor every year instead of having a sheriff appointed by the King.
Know ye that we have granted … to our barons of our city of London, that they may choose to themselves every year a mayor, who to us may be faithful, discreet and fit for government of the city, so as, when he shall be chosen, to be presented unto us, or our Justice if we shall not be present… and he shall swear to be faithful to us...
The 1215 London Charter
There was a condition: every year the newly elected Mayor must leave the safety of the City, travel upriver to Westminster and swear loyalty to the King.
In fact the loyalty of 13th century London was quite flexible and the city soon became a base for the rebellious barons. When they tried to get out of trouble later that year by offering the English crown to Prince Louis of France, Londoners are said to have lined the streets to welcome the invading French army.*
The show is also regarded as one of the most unrehearsed in the world.
