Here’s the juiciest detail. Until recently, the monarch could not enter the City of London without permission. Seriously.
The tradition dates back to the 12th century. The Queen (and now the King) stops at Temple Bar. They hand their sword to the Lord Mayor. Only then can they enter.
Imagine being the most powerful person in the UK and having to ask a local mayor for access. That’s the City’s power play.
It’s a Tax Haven… Sort Of
The City runs its own financial regulations. It’s not a tax haven like the Cayman Islands, but it’s special. Banks love it because rules are looser.
They have their own stamp duty and property laws. The City Corporation manages Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath. Wait, those are miles away! Yes, the City owns land outside its borders. It’s a landowner with attitude.
10.000+ beste London foto's · 100% gratis downloaden · Pexels-stockfoto's
It feels like a corporation pretending to be a city. In fact, it is a corporation. The full name is the “Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London.” Glorious bureaucratese.
