The Mock Lord Provost is usually a well-known figure in Leith, or popular character and is adorned in a gown that was hand-made and embroidered over fifty years ago.

The Lord Provost is the civic head of a community. It is an ancient office dating back to the 13th century. Historically the Lord Provost is normally elected by members of the Local Authority. They are the Convener of the Council and continue to carry out the normal duties of an elected member alongside additional duties.

In 1920 with the Amalgamation of Leith into Edinburgh the role of Leith Lord Provost was retired as the Leith Council seats were merged into the larger Edinburgh Council. However the decision to merge the burgh with the larger city was not a popular one in Leith, and since then Festival organisers have elected to create the role of Mock Lord Provost to lead the pageant rather than invite the new Edinburgh Provost to take the post.