What Is Lord Mayor of London? Can Taylor Swift Become One? Explained

Published 08/27/2024, 2:14 AM EDT

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that Taylor Swift is far more than just a musical artist. Her everyday life seems to turn a new page in the record books, reflecting her drive to surpass herself. Beyond her music, she has been a subject of study at Harvard, a focus of interest for economists, and a champion of body positivity research. However, with each new achievement, her dreams are taking even bigger strides as she has recently been making headlines with the possibility of becoming the next Lord Mayor of London.

Before moving forward, fans might want to familiarize themselves with the title of Lord Mayor of London first.

The Lord Mayor of London: Inside Taylor Swift’s potential designation

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After Taylor Swift concluded the London Eras Tour with an eighth night at Wembley, City A.M. recently reported that the Liberal Democrats, led by spokesperson Sarah Olney, took up a new initiative—calling for Swift to be awarded the Freedom of the City of London fueling further buzz around her eligibility to become the Lord Mayor of London. For those curious, dating back to around 1237, the Freedom of the City originally signified the status of a free man protected by the charter of the City of London.

On the other hand, The Lord Mayor of London is the ceremonial head of the City of London. Throughout the Middle Ages, this privilege evolved into the right to trade within the Square Mile. By the Victorian era, it was extended to include those living or working more broadly within the City. Fast forward to 2024, and the criteria have expanded even further, provided two members of the City of London Corporation or two members of a city livery company nominate them.

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Now, addressing the question of whether the self-made billionaire qualifies for the honor and if this makes her eligible to become the next Lord Mayor of London—there is good news.

Does Taylor Swift actually qualify to be awarded the Lord Mayor of London?

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According to a report by City A.M., Corporation chairman and columnist Chris Hayward has already shown enthusiasm about the possibility of welcoming Taylor Swift into the fold. “We have no doubt that she would have the best day in the City of London!” Hayward remarked. There is a long-standing tradition of admitting women, and in 2016, the award was extended to include individuals of any nationality, not just Commonwealth citizens.

If successful, receiving the Freedom of the City would help Swift clear the first hurdle in becoming Lord Mayor, as all Lord Mayors must first be aldermen, and therefore, freemen. Swift would be a remarkable Lord Mayor not only because of her superstardom but also as a woman, considering that only two women have held the position out of 695 Lord Mayors to date.

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What do you think of Taylor Swift's eligibility to become the Lord Mayor of London? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

1165 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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