The City's relationship with the Armed Forces
The City of London has a particularly close and long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces of the Crown, one that continues to flourish in the 21st century through the City's privileged corps / regiments and the plethora of Livery Company affiliations with ships, shore stations, regiments, squadrons and other military formations. This is all the more surprising when one considers that from a legal perspective, the City of London seems rather unwelcoming to the military. The City is the only place in the Kingdom where Her Majesty’s Forces may not enter without the prior permission of the Lord Mayor having been sought and obtained. Even HM's Lord Lieutenant for Greater London may not enter the City in uniform without the permission of the Lord Mayor. This right to refuse troops of the crown entry to the City is codified in a Royal Charter presented to the City by Edward III in 1327 and last tested in court as recently as 1842 (in City terms that’s very recently). Du...