She who wields the knife, never wears the crown, to tweak Michael Heseltine’s often-quoted Shakespearean phrase.
And while Penny Mordaunt wielded not one but two swords at the coronation, it was King Charles and Queen Camilla who wore the crown. But Mordaunt, as the Lord President of the Council, was one of the most memorable figures from the events at Westminster Abbey.
The former defence secretary, who was an unsuccessful candidate to become Conservative party leader last year, was responsible for carrying the sword of state and giving the jewelled sword of offering to the king. It is the first time the role has been carried out by a woman.
Mordaunt had stood out as she arrived at Westminster Abbey, wearing a teal dress and cape, which was custom-made by Safiyaa. She had said she wanted an outfit designed for a woman, rather than the standard black-and-gold court dress usually worn.
Both the matching teal cape and her headband featured a gold fern embroidery, a nod to the dress usually worn by privy council members, and gave the outfit a Greek twist. Atelier Hand and Lock were responsible for stitching the motif on, Mordaunt told Politico.
She received praise from fellow MPs, including Labour’s Emily Thornberry, who tweeted: “The sword bearer steals the show.”
Got to say it, @PennyMordaunt looks damn fine!
— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) May 6, 2023
The sword bearer steals the show.#Coronation
The Labour MP Chris Bryant joked: “The Penny is mightier than the sword.”
Meanwhile, the author Caitlin Moran said the sword had become the “Pippa Middleton’s bum” of the coronation.
Correction: Penny Mordaunt's sword is the "Pippa Middleton's Bum" of the Coronation.
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) May 6, 2023
Mordaunt had told the Times’s Red Box Politics podcast that she had been doing press-ups in the run-up to the coronation to prepare her for carrying out the duties.
The 50-year-old, who is also the Leader of the House of Commons, explained: “The Lord President of the Council is really the chairman of the king’s privy council.
“It used to be the executive for the king, and it still does a lot of business and it’s an important part of our constitution and the authority that we have in parliament.”
Mordaunt carried the 17th-century sword of state in procession to the abbey. Later she exchanged it for the jewelled sword of offering and delivered it to the archbishop of Canterbury.
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The jewelled sword of offering has a hilt encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds and a scabbard decorated with jewelled roses, thistles and shamrocks.
It symbolises royal power and being able to decide between good and evil, and the king accepting his duty and knightly virtues.
Asked about being around the king with a “big pointy sword”, Mordaunt admitted she did feel “a terrible weight of responsibility”.
Discussing how she feels the ceremony fits into modern life, Mordaunt added: “I think this is really important to the country. I think the monarchy survives and persists because it adapts and it changes and it’s always relevant.”
In her role as Lord President of the Council she ceremonially announced the Queen’s death and proclaimed Charles as Britain’s new king, two days after the monarch died.