The role of the Lady Mayor

The Lady Mayor of London is the elected head of the City of London Corporation, representing the Square Mile and serving as a powerful ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services. Through international diplomacy, convening high-level discussions, and civic engagement, the Lady Mayor drives economic growth, innovation, and philanthropy on behalf of the City, London, and the UK

Head of the City of London Corporation

The Lady Mayor is the elected head of the City of London Corporation, the world’s oldest democratic local government, governing the Square Mile – the historic heart of London. 

They preside over the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council. Dating back to 1189, it is one of the oldest posts in the United Kingdom, with historic relationships with the Monarchy and the Court of St James, including a role at the Accession Council. The City of London Corporation itself pre-dates the Norman Conquest and its liberties and customs are recognised in Magna Carta.

The Lady Mayor works closely with the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, although they have distinct and separate responsibilities.

An international ambassador

The Lady Mayor uses the historic reputation and global reach of the role, to promote and support the United Kingdom as the world’s leading global financial centre. They do this through a busy programme of international visits to different markets around the world, as well as welcoming visiting politicians and diplomats to the City of London and hosting banquets at Guildhall as part of state visits to the United Kingdom. 

Engagement Programme

The Lady Mayor works with but is independent of the British Government, and much of the international programme is coordinated with, and supported by, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business and Trade.

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is an important part of the Lady Mayor’s role. It continues with its vision and ambition of creating A Better City for All and, under its four strategic pillars (Inclusive, Healthy, Skilled and Fair), it runs its thought leadership programmes – Power of Inclusion, This is Me, We Can Be and City Giving Day. The charities being supported in 2025/26 are Homewards – A Royal Foundation programme which aims to demonstrate that homelessness is not inevitable and is in fact a solvable issue – and MQ Mental Health Research – the only UK charity that exclusively invests in mental health research.