Penny Mordaunt took a “couple of painkillers” before carrying the heavy Sword of State at the King’s coronation.
The Conservative MP stole some of the limelight with her display of strength at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, holding the 8lb (3.6kg) sword aloft for nearly half of the two-hour ceremony.
She carried out the role as part of her duties as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council. It was the first time a woman has carried the swords in a coronation.
Articles quickly sprung up titled “How to get arms of steel like Penny Mordaunt” and “How to get Penny Mordaunt’s sword-bearing arms”.
But Ms Mordaunt told Nick Robinson’s Political Thinking podcast she had not spent the six months before the ceremony in the gym.
“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 alright.”
She also shared her tips for anyone who might have to do some sword-carrying of their own: “Practice”, “have a good breakfast”, and “wear comfortable shoes”.
“Like anything you’re preparing for, don’t leave anything to chance,” she added.
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After carrying the Sword of State into the Abbey, she was presented with the Jewelled Sword of Offering, a smaller item which is decorated with silver, diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
The sword, which symbolises royal power, was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury before Ms Mordaunt then presented it to the King, who took it in his right hand and then clipped it into his girdle.
The sword was eventually returned to Ms Mordaunt, who carried it as she walked ahead of the King following his crowning.
Ms Mordaunt said the support from the other people involved in the ceremony also helped keep her going.
“The chaps who haven’t got any plaudits at all are the former defence chiefs who were standing behind me with the other swords in the ceremony,” she said.
