'I've been doing press-ups!' Penny Mordaunt tells of her preparations for sword carrying role at the King's Coronation as MPs praise her for 'stealing the show'

The Leader of the House of Commons carried the sword for more than an hour as Lord President of the Privy Council, a role she has undertaken since September last year.
Speaking to The Times' Red Box Politics podcast, Mordaunt disclosed she had been 'doing some press-ups' in preparation for today's role.

She added she had been practising in rehearsals with weighted replicas, and her experience in the Navy helped prepare her to stand for long periods of time without fainting.

Mordaunt was responsible for bearing The Sword of State and presenting The Jewelled Sword of Offering to the King - the first time it has been carried and presented by a woman.

Dressed in a custom-made teal outfit with a matching cape and headband with gold feather embroidery, Mordaunt held the pieces for the majority of the service.

Notable figures including a number of fellow MPs praised her, with Labour MP Emily Thornberry tweeting: 'Got to say it, @PennyMordaunt looks damn fine! The sword bearer steals the show.'

Author and columnist Caitlin Moran also commented on the social media buzz around Ms Mordaunt's role, saying: 'Penny Mordaunt's sword is the 'Pippa Middleton's Bum' of the Coronation.'

Labour MP Chris Bryant said in a tweet: 'The Penny is mightier than the sword.'

Ms Mordaunt, who is also the Leader of the House of Commons, explained: 'The Lord President of the Council is really the chairman of the King's Privy Council.

'It used to be the executive for the King, and it still does a lot of business and it's an important part of our constitution and the authority that we have in Parliament.

'On the day I am representing the King's authority, and I am going to be doing a number of things.'

-Mail Online