London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 15, 2026

Coronation: Penny Mordaunt's sword-wielding role - and other top moments

Coronation: Penny Mordaunt's sword-wielding role - and other top moments

Millions of viewers watched King Charles III crowned in a meticulously-planned ancient ceremony but it was the unexpected moments that got many people talking.
1. Penny Mordaunt wields swords

Penny Mordaunt caused a flurry of activity on social media as she played a starring role at the Coronation - holding ceremonial swords for more than an hour.

On Twitter many pointed out the Conservative MP's strength, even winning praise from her party's political foes.

"Don't let anyone ever say I never say anything positive about the Tories... I am in awe of @PennyMordaunt arm and shoulder strength," former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell tweeted.

Speaking to Times Radio before the ceremony, she joked she had been preparing by "doing some press-ups".

While Ms Mordaunt's custom-made teal outfit - with a matching cape and headband with feather embroidery - also caught people's attention, with many drawing comparisons with Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn.

One woman tweeted: "Penny Mordaunt has absolutely stolen the show at the Abbey today! She is rocking that Anne Boleyn look!"

The MP and Leader of the House of Commons said she was honoured to beinvolved in the ceremony through her role as Lord President of the Council - an ancient role.

She carried the 17th century Sword of State made for Charles II into Westminster Abbey, and exchanged it for the Jewelled Sword of Offering, which she delivered to the archbishop.

She then carried the Jewelled Sword of Offering, with hilt encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, for the rest of the service and walked with it in front of the King as he left the abbey.

Notably, she becomes the first woman to carry and present the sword - which symbolises royal power and the King accepting his duty and knightly virtues.

She tweeted: "I'm very aware that our armed forces, police officers and others have been marching or standing for hours as part of the ceremony or to keep us all safe.

"In comparison, my job was rather easier."

2. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

There was a tender moment between the Prince and Princess of Wales's children. Prince Louis, five, when he held the hand of his older sister Princess Charlotte as they walked into Westminster Abbey.

The prince, the youngest of Prince William and Catherine's children, was on his best behaviour, having stolen the show at previous royal events including Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee when he appeared to find the flypast a bit noisy while on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

This time, the prince nudged his father to point out something in the distance during the flypast and debuted a new, rather exaggerated, wave.

3. Gospel choir bring a modern twist

A gospel choir added a rather modern twist to the ancient ceremony.

The Ascension choir were handpicked and specially brought together for the occasion. Dressed in all white, the group of singers sang beautifully and swayed as they performed specially composed piece Alleluia.

They proved a hit with Catherine who gave a beaming smile as she listened.

4. When music royalty meets actual royalty

Singer Katy Perry turned heads in a fabulous lilac Vivienne Westwood matching jacket and skirt, and fascinator.

But the Firework singer caught viewers' eyes for another reason as she had a spot of bother finding for her seat.

She was seen walking up and down the Abbey searching for it.

"Katy Perry not finding her seat is so me," tweeted one Perry fan.

The pop star, who happily took selfies with other guests, will be performing at the Coronation Concert in Windsor alongside Lionel Richie on Sunday.

Perry later tweeted: "Don't worry guys I found my seat."

5. Prince William kissed father

The King and the Prince of Wales shared a touching moment when Prince William paid homage to his father.

Prince William got down on one knee to pledge his loyalty to the King, before kissing him on the cheek.

The King was then seen to say a few words to his eldest son.

In a break with tradition, the prince was the only blood prince to pay homage.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK and Finland Discuss European Defence and Continued Support for Ukraine
Nigel Farage Wins Clacton By-Election to Return to the House of Commons
UK Government Deploys Military to Help Fight Wildfires and Bans Disposable Barbecues
UK Records Hottest Day of the Year as Fifth Summer Heatwave Peaks in Southern England
UK Condemns Houthi Actions and Warns of Red Sea Threat to Global Trade
UK and Solomon Islands Open Wildlife Photography Exhibition in Honiara
UK Small Businesses Face Continued Cash Flow and Tax Pressures
Greatham Marsh Restoration Restores Tidal Wetland in Hartlepool After More Than 200 Years
UK Health Regulator Urges University Students to Check Meningitis and Measles Vaccination Status
Mining Remediation Authority Completes Major Ground Stabilization Works in Scottish Community
UK Food Crime Investigators Seize 33 Tonnes of Illegal Food in Multi-Agency Operation
Technical Qualification Uptake Hits Record High as Advanced Mathematics Results Improve
UK Summer Temperatures on Course to Challenge Long-Standing Records, Met Office Says
UK Farmers Bring Forward Cereal Harvests as Drought Threatens Yields
Wildfires Surge Across England and Wales as Fire Chiefs Report Record July
UK Nurses Warn of Heat Risks as Hospital Staff Struggle With Extreme Temperatures
Southern Water Seeks Drought Order for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Amid Water Shortages
UK Heatwave Pushes West London Temperature to 38.1 Degrees as Health Alerts Continue
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in Second Quarter Despite Global Uncertainty
China’s Kimi Launches AI-Focused Credit Card With Agricultural Bank of China and American Express
UK Residents Gather to Watch Rare Partial Solar Eclipse
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice Faces Criticism Over Legal Threat Against Guardian Journalist
Michael Forsyth Elected Speaker of the House of Lords
Cambridge Researchers Launch £20 Million Human Organoid Drug Testing Programme
Heathrow Loses European Passenger Traffic Lead to Istanbul Airport
Households Near New UK Electricity Pylons to Receive £250 Annual Energy Bill Discount
UK Government Estimates Zero-Hours Contract Ban Could Cost Employers Up to £3 Billion a Year
Robert Jenrick Leaves Conservatives for Reform UK in Major Parliamentary Defection
UK Police Chiefs Urge Government to Block Early Release of Andrew Harper Killers
UK Government Holds Emergency Cobra Meeting as Drought and Heatwave Raise Wildfire Risks
Former Labour Adviser Arrested on Suspicion of Spying for China Held Privileged Access as Top Party Donor
Turkish Parliament Passes Landmark Bill Granting Conditional Amnesty to Disarmed PKK Members
Donald Trump Warns FIFA Against Ousting Gianni Infantino Amid Revolt by Global Football Leaders
Jeff Bezos Joins Investor Group Closing In on $6 Billion Liverpool FC Stake
Police Conduct Cross-Border Raids Against Northern England Drug Network
Nicola Sturgeon Protested at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Event
Major UK Retail Chain Enters Administration With One Hundred Fifty-Four Stores Set to Close
Heathrow Renews Call for Runway Expansion After Losing Europe’s Busiest Airport Ranking
Government Condemns One Million Pound Thames Water Executive Bonus Amid Drought
NHS England Says More Than One Hundred Thousand Hepatitis C Patients Have Been Cured
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband Calls for End to West Bank Settler Violence
UK Prepares for Deepest Partial Solar Eclipse Since Nineteen Ninety-Nine
UK Heatwave Triggers Amber Health Alerts as Economic Losses Reach Four Point Four Billion Pounds
UK Offers Electricity Bill Discounts to Communities Hosting New Power Infrastructure
Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at Three Point Seven Five Percent
UK Government Moves to Ban Subscription Traps and Misleading Retail Discounts
Andy Burnham Gives Councils New Powers to Block Betting and Vape Shops
UK Councils to Receive Sweeping Planning Powers to Ban New Vape and Betting Shops
Nicola Sturgeon Says She Has No Contact With Estranged Husband After SNP Embezzlement Case
Police Arrest Two Men After Aberdeenshire Defense Technology Office Break-In
×