For the coronation of King Charles III.
The sword-bearer swallowed painkillers beforehand
Penny Mordaunt carried the sword of state at the coronation and presented it to King Charles III. on his throne. She then held the sacrificial sword upright.
© Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images
British politician Penny Mordaunt has revealed she took painkillers for her role as sword bearer at the coronation.
Everything for the perfect coronation of King Charles III. (74): Sword-wielding Penny Mordaunt, 50, has revealed she was taking painkillers for her role in the historic event. She tells that in BBC Podcast “Political Thinking” by Nick Robinson (59).
Penny Mordaunt goes down in history
The British Conservative Party (Tories) politician and leader of the House of Commons first carried the 17th-century sword of state through Westminster Abbey at the historic event and later held the jeweled sacrificial sword in front of the king. She is the first woman in history to fill the role of “Lord President of the Privy Council” at a coronation. The Privy Council is an advisory body to the sovereign, made up of senior elected politicians and ceremonial officials.
She carried heavy swords for almost two hours
The 50-year-old thus played an important role in the truest sense of the word. Because the sword of state weighs 8 pounds (3.6 kilos), which is about as much as a newborn. Penny Morgaunt held the heavy sword upright for 51 minutes. She also wore heeled shoes with a petrol blue dress from the label Safiyaa. “I took some painkillers beforehand just to make sure I was okay,” she revealed of her secret to mastering the strenuous task. Exercise, a good breakfast and comfortable shoes would also have helped her. During her training in the Royal Navy, she also learned a technique that benefited her on May 6: “Triggering the toes” ensures improved blood circulation when standing for a long time. However, the politician did not dare to go to the gym for six months so as not to risk training injuries.
After presenting the sword of state to the king during the coronation service, she was handed the slightly lighter jeweled sacrificial sword. She also had to carry that upright in front of the monarch for the rest of the ceremony. A real show of strength for the poor, for which Penny Mordaunt has already received a lot of respect.
In the British “Telegraph” She said she was “grateful” that people recognized her role in the event. But she also emphasized that many people involved had contributed to the success of the coronation celebrations: “So many have prepared that nobody would notice if they did their job really well.” That applies both to the organizers of the numerous street festivals and to the Earl Marshal, who organized the coronation.