REPORTS: JUBIDA BEGUM, LAURA BENJAMIN AND TRACY SCHAVERIEN
Although King Charles, Queen Camilla and the rest of the royal family took centre stage at the coronation service at Westminster Abbey, many other people were integral to the day. The historic event only came together after a tremendous amount of work was put in behind the scenes, from the military personnel who took part in the processions to the people who organised street closures and those who broadcast the day’s events live to the world. In addition, there were some participants whose involvement in proceedings got the whole country talking.
Three people who had a special role to play share their stories.
PENNY MORDAUNT
S he’s both Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, but Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt has admitted that she needed a little extra help in the form of painkillers before carrying ceremonial swords during the King’s coronation last week.
“I was not in the gym for six months before this,” she told the BBC when asked if she had trained for her key moment.
“You want to make sure you are in good nick,” she added. “I did take a couple of painkillers beforehand, just to make sure I was going to be all right.”
Dressed in a custom-made teal outfit with a matching cape, her role saw her carry the 17th-century Sword of State – which weighs 8lb – for nearly an hour before exchanging it for the Jewelled Sword of Offering, which symbolises the monarch accepting his duty and knightly virtues. Penny was the first woman to perform the role as Lord President.
The Portsmouth North MP said her Royal Naval Reserve training had helped – she knew how to keep her circulation going by “wriggling your toes” – and that anyone hoping to emulate her accomplishment should “practise”, “have a very good breakfast”, and “wear comfortable shoes”.
Saying that it was a “huge privilege” to be a part of the coronation, Penny added she enjoyed becoming a hit on social media following the ceremony, with users photoshopping images of the sword replaced by a kebab skewer, or motifs on her dress being compared with Poundland’s corporate branding.
“I was reunited with my phone and found I had become a meme,” she said. “I say well done to the Great British public.”
SARAH-JANE MEE
S ky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee conducted live interviews with the crowds gathered along Th
