While protestors failed to overshadow the coronation, someone else did manage to steal the limelight. Penny Mordaunt, former Conservative leadership hopeful and Lord President of the Council, emerged victorious from today’s service. It was Mordaunt, not the King, who captured the imagination of some viewers at home and abroad. Arriving at Westminster Abbey in a bespoke teal dress, cape and headband by the designer Safiyaa, Ms Mordaunt immediately caught the attention of social media in much the same way as Pippa Middleton at Kate and Will’s wedding over a decade ago.
Scene stealing, however, takes more than an outfit. Though already being lauded as a pitch-perfect ensemble (the colour ‘Poseidon’, a nod to her Portsmouth constituency and stunning gold fern embroidery a reference to the uniform of the Privy Council) it was Mordaunt’s frankly iconic wielding of the ceremonial Jewelled Sword of Offering that has truly impressed.
Blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and presented to the King, before being carried perfectly upright for the remainder of the two-hour ceremony, the sword was made for the coronation of George IV in 1821 and it is heavy. Mordaunt, the first woman to take this role, has been quoted as saying she trained by doing press-ups in preparation for the occasion – a wonderful insight into the very human machinery behind this sublime spectacle. It’s an impressive feat and one that has already captured the attention and praise of commentators and the public alike.
Today’s coronation has gone off without any significant interruption. But it is no secret that the popularity of the monarchy is waning with each generation and news sites today have been filled with images of empty seats at various screenings across the United Kingdom. As heir to the throne, Charles pushed relentlessly for a more relatable monarchy. As a King awaiting his coronation, he insisted on stripping back an occasion that is all about pomp. For some, it has been a source of disappointment. Today it is to Mordaunt that we must look to for a vision for what future-proofed pomp and ceremony could look like.
Her ensemble was a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, helping her to carry out a demanding ceremonial role with an air of sleek professionalism. Her performance is an example of how we might execute a vision of a modern and forward-looking Britain without sacrificing the tradition and heritage that often seems difficult to reconcile with where we are today.
This vision has struck a chord. It seems that Charles’s idea for a more modern monarchy is at last beginning to make sense and may well stave off a wave of republicanism in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death, but it is in Penny Mordaunt at the coronation that we can find a compelling vision for a Britain as a constitutional monarchy that can truly inspire to unite our past with our future.
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