The Silent Ceremony – 7 November 2025
The Master was pleased to represent the Company to witness The Silent Ceremony, when the Mayor was sworn into office, the day before the Lady Mayor’s Show.
Dame Susan Langley, whose mother livery company is the Insurers, was sworn in as our 697th Mayor and the first to be styled Lady Mayor. Lady Mayor biography – City of London
This moving and unique ceremony dates back more than 800 years. The lights in the Guildhall are lowered, the outgoing Mayor transfers the mayoral insignia, the seal, the purse, the sword and the mace to the incoming Mayor. It is known as the silent ceremony because apart from the Mayor making the Declaration of office. No other words are spoken during the ceremony.
It is conducted in silence, to indicate the importance of the office not the individual, no speeches are required.
Photographs of the ceremony can be found here (20+) Facebook. Ian, the Masters consort captured a few photographs immediately before the ceremony and of our new Lady Mayor in her new tricorn hat.
Sandra Raine
Master