Abstract

The City of London, colloquially known as ‘The Square Mile’, was founded by the Romans in 43AD. The 2,000 year since the arrival of the Romans has witnessed The City grow to become the world’s greatest financial services centre, and the hub of the UK economy. The City has a unique constitutional relationship with the Crown, with successive monarchs granting or confirming rights, customs and obligations upon its citizens. Chief among those rights is that of self governance. The Corporation of the City of London is headed by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of London, who is elected annually by and from among the liverymen of the various City Livery Companies. This talk will explore the fascinating, idiosyncratic and complex relationship between The Crown, The City and its citizenry through the lens of a thoroughly modern livery company.