Penny Mordaunt’s unimaginable rise to starring sword Coronation function

She is finest recognized exterior of Westminster for showing on diving present Splash! virtually 10 years in the past. But Penny Mordaunt‘s largest breakout thus far got here on Saturday as she wielded ceremonial swords on the King’s Coronation in entrance of a 2,300-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey and a TV viewers of 20 million Britons.

As Lord President of the Council, she was chargeable for bearing The Sword of State and presenting The Jewelled Sword of Offering to Charles – the primary time it has been carried out by a girl.

Ms Mordaunt, wearing a custom-made teal outfit, instantly started to pattern on Twitter and sparked comparisons with Pippa Middleton.

She was praised by the left and proper, with Labour MP Emily Thornberry saying she seemed “damn fine”, whereas Tory Alicia Kearns added that she had “slayed it”.

Ms Mordaunt even wowed Sir Tony Blair’s former spin physician Alastair Campbell, who admitted he was “in awe” of her higher physique power.

And after numerous failed Tory management bids, her spectacular efforts seem to have boosted her probabilities at a future run for the job.

Bookmakers Coral and Ladbrokes have each slashed her odds from 8/1 to 13/2 to exchange Rishi Sunak as the subsequent chief of the Conservative Party, with simply Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch forward of her.

Coral’s John Hill stated: “Penny Mordaunt has accomplished her probabilities of turning into the subsequent Conservative chief no hurt in any respect throughout the Coronation celebrations.

“She has been praised across the House for her role in the Abbey where she shone with a sword.”

Ahead of the historic ceremony, Ms Mordaunt, a Royal Navy Reservist, revealed she had accomplished press-ups to organize for the gruelling function.

And regardless of the viral response to her sword-carrying, she was modest as she broke her silence hours after the crowning of Charles and Camilla.

Ms Mordaunt, who can also be the Leader of the House of Commons, stated on Saturday evening: “Honoured to be part of the Coronation with thousands of others who played their part.

“I’m very conscious that our armed forces, law enforcement officials and others have been marching or standing for hours as a part of the ceremony or to maintain us all protected. In comparability, my job was relatively simpler.

“Huge and heartfelt thanks to all who made this so remarkable. I’m so proud of you all and the King and Queen today.”

Ms Mordaunt labored as a magician’s assistant when she was a pupil and was Conservative head of youth below Sir John Major.

She was elected to Parliament as MP for Portsmouth North in 2010 after an unsuccessful try in 2005.

She was given her first ministerial job in 2014 below David Cameron and she or he has since held numerous posts, together with turning into the primary feminine defence secretary in 2019.

Ms Mordaunt was a outstanding supporter of Brexit within the 2016 referendum on EU membership.

In 2014, the politician – who was as soon as voted Britain’s sexiest feminine MP – donned her swimming costume to participate in ITV actuality present Splash! the place she was amongst celeb contestants educated to dive by Olympian Tom Daley.

Ms Mordaunt, who’s common with the Tory grassroots, threw her hat into the ring at two management contests final yr – with the primary gained by Liz Truss and Mr Sunak being topped within the second.

She was handed her present job by then-prime minister Ms Truss in what was broadly considered as a demotion to sideline her rival.

Mr Sunak stored her within the comparatively junior function when he took the keys to No 10.

But it in the end led to her stealing the present on the Coronation and, if the bookies are proper, might enhance a 3rd bid to be Tory chief.