IIn a sea of royals and celebrities, an unlikely star emerged at the coronation of Charles III on Saturday.
Penny Mordaunt, a Conservative politician and leader of the House of Commons, played a major role in the ceremony, which captivated the audience. Mordaunt was required to carry the eight-pound weight into Westminster Abbey during King’s Procession as part of his extra post as Privy Council chair of the Queen’s advisory team. sword.
Today, the 49-year-old politician holds a four-foot-long sword and attracts the world’s attention with his poise and demeanor. Mordaunt wore a sleek teal midi dress she had custom made for the occasion, with a matching cape and gold fern embroidered Jane Taylor hat. I nodded at the pattern of the school uniform.
The National Treasure was presented to King Charles III by the President of Parliament, Penny Mordaunt, at the coronation.
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“[I] I’ve been doing some push-ups to train because I’m going to be carrying the heaviest sword, the sword of the nation,” she said. Second-rate Ahead of the historic day, her character was introduced on the Red Box podcast. Mordaunt was required to hold the sword representing the king’s authority at right angles to his body. She added that she “practiced some reps with weights and was honored to do so,” noting that her Navy background helped prepare her.
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In a quirky tradition, 100 freshly minted 50p coins were adorned with the image of the king and exchanged for a sword. Mr. Mordaunt exchanged the sword for a bag of coins at the Abbey’s altar.
She also made history by becoming the first woman to perform this royal duty. politician Queen Elizabeth “felt out of place” in the Privy Council’s traditional black and gold court dress as Marquess of Salisbury at her coronation in 1953.
Penny Mordaunt holds the Sword of Nations at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
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Mordaunt took on his first royal duties just four days after his appointment. leader of the house of commons On September 6, former Prime Minister Truss. The Queen died in September and she presided over the enthronement council when Charles ascended the throne.
The Portsmouth North MP is also known for failing to become Conservative leader. She faces incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the 2022 election, and after finishing third, she backed Truss and won a seat in the short-lived government.
Mordaunt previously served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2021 to 2022. She became the first woman to serve as secretary of defense in 2019, breaking the previous record for first. She is also a former governor. at the World Bank.
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