Important role in coronation
This sword bearer steals the show
May 6, 2023 at 6:47 p.m
If you follow the coronation of King Charles on TV, you can’t miss her: Penny Mordaunt. She is the woman who carries two swords through Westminister Abbey. Their appearance marks a novelty in the centuries-old tradition.
Penny Mordaunt had at the coronation of King Charles III. played a special role: the British politician of the Conservative Party (Tories) and leader of the House of Commons wore the sword of state at the historic event and presented the king with the jeweled “Sword of Offering” (sacrificial sword). She is the first woman to take over this important tradition.
Here Penny Mordaunt carries the “Sword of State”.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
She turned heads at the ceremony in a teal blue dress with gold appliqués that was custom made for the occasion, and a matching cape and headband. This was also due to the fact that the 50-year-old carried a sword in front of her chest several times and, among other things, walked in front of the king himself. Her £2,000 dress was from the Safiyaa label, according to the British Daily Mail. The politician has been hailed for playing her role with dignity on social media.
Mordaunt is the head of the Privy Council. She was Minister for Development and then Defense Secretary under Prime Minister Theresa May. The first woman in Britain to hold this post. She resigned in July 2019 when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. Last year she failed in an attempt to become the Tories’ party leader and thus prime minister.
100 coins for a sword
When Charles III seated in the coronation chair at today’s ceremony, Mordaunt made her grand entrance: She symbolically bought the jeweled sacrificial sword – for 100 newly minted 50p coins bearing the King’s likeness. The weapon is one of the British Crown Jewels. It was made for the coronation of King George IV in 1821 and is considered the most beautiful sword in the world. The hilt is set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the scabbard is decorated with jeweled roses, thistles and shamrocks. The sword symbolizes royal power, but also the monarch’s acceptance of his duties.
Earlier the Archbishop of Canterbury had blessed the sword which was then carried by Mordaunt to the king. Eventually it was hung on the monarch’s golden coronation belt. It was then removed and the King stepped forward to offer it to the Dean of Westminster, who placed it on the altar. In exchange for the coins, Mordaunt then got the sword back. She unsheathed it and wore it for the remainder of the service before the monarch. The small velvet pouch in which Mordaunt presents the coins was made for Charles’ grandfather’s coronation in 1937.