Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt becomes the first woman in history to be presented with a sword
London:
Newly minted silver-coloured 50-pence coins featuring an effigy of the crowned king were offered during coronations as part of an ancient custom, a media report said on Saturday.
At the altar in Westminster Abbey, Penny Mordaunt, Lord President of the Privy Council, and Leader of the House of Commons, redeemed the sword for a bag of silver-coloured coins, totaling £50. Independent newspaper.
Reports said she became the first woman in history to present the intricate, slender, priceless sword made for the extravagant 1821 coronation of George IV.
The exchange – a modernization into decimal currency introduced since the last coronation 70 years ago – is a traditional part of the ceremony, with a peer offering 100 silver shillings’ worth in exchange.
It said that the smaller velvet bag was used for the same purpose at the coronation of Charles’ grandfather, George VI, in 1937. The sword, a royal symbol of power and the emperor acknowledging his duty and chivalric qualities, is adorned with diamonds, rubies and emeralds and the sheath decorated with jewel-studded roses, thistles and shamrocks.
The sword was first blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and then carried by Mordaunt to the king.
It was then placed in the king’s right hand and tied around his waist with the golden coronation sword belt aka the girdle.
After that, it was not cut, the king proceeded to present it to the Dean of Westminster, who placed it on the altar.
Mordaunt then received the sword after an exchange of ransom money, which he placed on an alms dish held by the Dean.
Reports state that she drew the sword and carried it in its “naked” form—without sheath—before the emperor for the remainder of the service.
The king’s effigy has been created by renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings, and has been personally approved by Her Majesty, a Royal Mint release said earlier.
Commemorative coins made of cupro-nickel were issued by the Royal Mint last month to mark the coronation showing Charles wearing the Tudor Crown.
On the reverse side, it features a portrait of Westminster Abbey by the Royal Mint’s resident designer, Natasha Jenkins, above the King’s Cypher and Crown.
The Latin inscription around the effigy reads “• Charles III • D • G • Rex • F • D • 5 pounds • 2022”, which equates to ‘Charles III, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith’. ,
The effigy will begin to appear on circulating and commemorative coins in the coming months.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)