Short answers, pulled from the story.
The office of Lord Mayor of London was instituted in 1189 with Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone serving as the first holder. This civic role has existed for over eight centuries without interruption.
Dame Mary Donaldson became the first woman elected as Lord Mayor of London in 1983. She was followed by Dame Fiona Woolf in 2013 before Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley assumed the Mayoralty in November 2025.
One must serve as a City sheriff before standing for election to the Lord Mayoralty. Since 1385 prior service as sheriff has been mandatory for this position and the Lord Mayor must be chosen from amongst the aldermen under an ordinance of 1435.
Since 1959 the festival known as the Lord Mayor's Show has been held on the second Saturday in November. It evolved into one of London's longest-running annual events starting with pageantry that includes the State coach built in 1757.
The Prime Minister delivers the keynote address at the Lord Mayor's Banquet held on the Monday after the Lord Mayor's Show. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gives the Mansion House Speech during the Bankers' Dinner in June while the Foreign Secretary addresses international dignitaries at the Easter Banquet.