Lord Mayors Show – This annual parade, 3 miles long, wound its way through the City of London – . The first Lord Mayor's Show was held in 1215 when King John's Charter stipulated that the new Lord Mayor must swear an oath of allegiance to the King, and also to literally show himself to the people. Since then only major events such as the Black Death and in 1852 the funeral of the Duke of Wellington have stopped the show. There was a huge variety of floats, acrobatics, and military displays and bands. In the twentieth century it was the first event ever to be broadcast live on television. It was estimated that half a million people watched it, with millions more watching on the BBC. A strange feeling knowing that aswe stood and watched the Lord Mayor's coach go by, someone stood in exactly that spot 450 years ago and marvelled at the sight of a camel on its way to meet Elizabeth I!
This was followed at 5.00pm (by which time it was dark) by a fireworks display on the Thames.