Every year the Master & Wardens are invited to Mansion  House to present the Tricorn Hat to the newly elected Lord Mayor, normally the Tuesday following the Lord Mayor’s show.

Eda Rose-Lawson, Master Feltmaker presents the tricorn hat to the Lord Mayor

The first time the Lord Mayor wears the Tricorn is during the Silent Ceremony held in the Guildhall on the Friday, the day before the Lord Mayor’s Show. During the ceremony of “appointment” the incoming Lord Mayor puts on his new hat and the outgoing Lord Mayor then removes his hat which had been presented to him the previous year by the Master of the Feltmakers’ Company.

The Lord Mayor wears the Tricorn during the Lord Mayor’s Show and can be seen waving it at the crowds and the floats as they pass by in the parade. The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers then formally present the Hat on the following Tuesday at a short ceremony at the Mansion House. This year the Master, Eda Rose-Lawson in presenting the hat gave a short speech congratulating the Lord Mayor, the Rt Hon Alderman David Wootton on his appointment and wished him well for his tenure of office.

The Lady Mayoress is also included in the presentation and she is given a Feltmakers’ hat pin. This year however many of you will have seen the Lady Mayoress wearing a coordinating hat and suit outfit during the Lord Mayor’s Show. The hat was designed by the Master and she personally gave the hat to the Lady Mayoress.

The Lord Mayor wears his hat, flanked by the Master, the Lady Mayoress and the Wardens

The hat is made by hand for our Company by Patey of London specifically for each Lord Mayor. It is a black Tricorn hat made from wool with black ostrich feathers.

Anthony Phillips