Temple Bar was a gateway at the boundary of the City of London. The Temple Bar Memorial now stands on the site, at the junction of the Strand and Fleet Street in London. When visiting the city on state occasions, the sovereign still observes the custom of asking permission to enter the City. During the ceremony, the Lord Mayor of London offers the sovereign the sword of state. The sovereign returns it, making the mayor responsible for protecting the sovereign in the City. A gateway was erected on the site in the early 1100’s.
