It’s 268 years old, weighs almost three tonnes and, with its gilded detailing, brought a golden shimmer to a gloomy November morning.
The Lord Mayor’s State Coach was drawn by six horses through the streets of the City of London before dawn yesterday, as part of an early morning rehearsal for the Lady Mayor’s Show.
The coach was removed from its temporary staging post at Guildhall, headquarters of the City of London Corporation, and travelled to Bank Junction, along Cheapside and around St Paul’s Cathedral.
When Dame Susan Langley steps into the coach for the show proper on Saturday, she will be only the third woman to hold the historic office of elected head of the City Corporation, and the first to take the title of Lady Mayor.
Lady Mayor Elect Dame Susan Langley DBE said:
“The Lady Mayor’s show is the highlight of the year in the Square Mile, bringing colour and pageantry to our streets. It’s a fantastic mix of centuries of tradition, woven together with elements reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of modern London.
“It requires a huge amount of preparation and planning, and the early morning rehearsal gives everyone a chance to experience and fine-tune the choreography, and it’s a remarkable experience to be part of, as well as an amazing sight for those up early enough to see it.”
Yesterday’s rehearsal was the only opportunity for the Lady Mayor Elect to run through timings and choreography with Pageantmaster Dominic Reid, the man tasked with running the world’s oldest civic pageant.
The show will feature 7,000 people, 250 horses and more than 50 decorated floats. Highlights will include appearances from legendary Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Sir Malcolm Campbell’s restored Bluebird hydroplane.
As Lady Mayor, Dame Susan, who succeeds current Lord Mayor Alastair King, will serve as a global ambassador for the UK financial and professional services sector, promoting the UK as an attractive destination for inward investment.
