Coronavirus: 2020 Lord Mayor's Show Cancelled

The 2020 Lord Mayor’s Show has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual event, which includes military involvement, was due to take place on Saturday 14 November, with organisers planning a contained, televised event with no public access in Guildhall Yard. 

The announcement was made on Monday amid a continued rise in UK coronavirus cases and warnings of a second wave.

In a tweet on Tuesday, the Lord Mayor's Show said they had been "working hard" to plan the event accordingly, but felt it was "not right thing to do" under the current climate.

"We are very sad to announce that there will be no #lordmayorsshow this year," the tweet said.

"We've been working hard to create a Covid-safe Show, but it's not the right thing to do under the current circumstances. Stay safe."

The City of London Corporation said according to historical records, the last cancellation of the Lord Mayor's Show was in 1852 to allow for a period of national mourning for the Duke of Wellington.

Speaking about the cancellation, Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman William Russell, said: "The Lord Mayor’s Show is a unique event but, because of serious and increasing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic over the coming months, we believe that cancelling it is the right decision.

"Safety must remain our ultimate priority.

"I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this show. Our gratitude to them will remain undiminished, as will my hopes that we will be able to hold the Lord Mayor’s Show next year."

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show Ltd, Alderman Tim Hailes, said: "It seems likely that, as we head towards winter, London and the UK will face increasingly challenging times so, with deep regret, the Board of Directors of the Lord Mayor’s Show Limited has taken this difficult decision.

"Instead of relaxing the public health restrictions, they look set to be tightened, so it would have become untenable, if not impossible, to hold this popular event, even in its scaled-back format."

The event usually entails a three-mile-long procession through London’s streets.

Cover image: Lord Mayor's Show in 2019 (Picture: PA).