King Charles' coronation: Penny Mordaunt left viewers in shock while presenting Monarch with sword

Commons leader and Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt presented the Jewelled Sword of Offering to the King during the Coronation ceremony.

The politician became the first woman in the history of Britain to be entrusted with such an important ceremonial role, but it was the way it was done that sent viewers in awe.

Twitter exploded with comments praising Penny Mordaunt's strength and perfect fit for the occasion. Some said that she ‘was made for moments like this’ and others added that she ‘would be a great King’.

Here is who Penny Mordaunt is and why she made all women proud with her sword work today.

Penny Mordaunt praised for 'magnificent' sword role

As the Lord President of the Privy Council, Penny Mordaunt presented King Charles III the Jewelled Sword of Offering - an intricate tapered sword, made for George IV's 1821 coronation.

The high-value item has a hilt encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds and a scabbard decorated with jewelled roses, thistles and shamrocks. The weapon is meant to be used for 'the protection of good and the punishment of evil'. The monarch accepting it also accepts his duty and knightly virtues.

Penny Mordaunt, who looked glamorous during the ceremony in a custom-embroidered teal outfit with gold ferns, became the first woman in history to be entrusted with the role of handing the sword to the King, and it looked like she took it seriously.

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The artefact was briefly clipped to the King's sword belt and then, after a proclamation by the Archbishop, and offered up, placed on the altar and redeemed with ‘redemption money’ by Penny Mordaunt.

The sword was then drawn and the politician carried it in its ‘naked’ form - without its scabbard - before the monarch for the rest of the service.

Viewers didn’t miss how well Penny Mordaunt handled her task.

Columnist Ayesha Hazarika said:

I feel this is Penny Mordaunt's big day and I’m okay with that.

Journalist Tom Harwood commented:

Penny Mordaunt was made for moments like this!

Former BBC presenter Simon McCoy said:

Penny Mordaunt would be a great King #Sword.

Councillor Joe Porter added:

Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, carrying the Sword of Destiny. A magnificent sight!

Ms Mordaunt even drew praise from Sir Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell who said:

Don’t let anyone ever say I never say anything positive about Tories …. I am in awe of Penny Mordaunt's arm and shoulder strength!

Researcher Gabriel Milland called Penny Mordaunt a ‘global breakout superstar'.

The Women2Win campaign group said:

What a role model! Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, carrying the Sword of Destiny.

Who is Penny Mordaunt?

As well as being the Lord President of the Privy Council, Penny Mordaunt is also the Leader of the House Commons. She has served as a Conservative MP since May 2010, representing the area of Portsmouth North.

The daughter of a former paratrooper, she has a long history in the military, having herself been commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve and serving from 2010 until 2019.

She has twice stood to be the leader of the Conservatives but stood back in 2022 to allow Rishi Sunak to stand unopposed.

Read more:

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⋙ King Charles' coronation: Here's everything we know about Queen Camilla's grandson, Louis Lopes

Sources used:

- Express: 'Heroic Penny Mordaunt leaves viewers in awe of her strength with 'magnificent' sword role'