Incoming Lord Mayor to travel by Thames barge before Lord Mayor's Show

The incoming Lord Mayor of the City of London, Bronek Masojada, will revive a historic Thames tradition on Saturday 14 November, before he joins the Lord Mayor's Show, the 811-year-old pageant. According to the City of London Corporation, he will leave Westminster at 8.30am aboard the Royal Shallop "Jubilant". His wife, the Sheriffs of the City of London and a flotilla of Livery boats will accompany him. He will then disembark at HMS President and take his place in the procession through the Square Mile.

The river journey recalls the historic route taken by Lord Mayors travelling to Westminster to swear loyalty to the Crown. The last Lord Mayor's Show flotilla took place in 2017.

The procession is due to leave The Mansion House at 11am. It will go to the Royal Courts of Justice and return. The organisers expect around 6,500 participants, 250 horses and more than 50 decorated floats over 2.86 miles. They expect more than 350,000 people to line the route, with millions more watching on BBC One and online. The Royal Navy will provide the Guard of Honour and parade the King's Colour on the King's 78th birthday.

Mr Masojada takes office at the Silent Ceremony on Friday 13 November, and the Show will be his first public engagement. He said beginning it on the Thames would be "a very special moment". The procession is free, and visitors are encouraged to use public transport because of extensive road closures.