Penny: I took pain relief

How she bore sword duties at Coronation

- BEN GLAZE

PENNY Mordaunt took painkillers to make sure she would be able to cut it in her role as swordbearer at King Charles III's Coronation.

The Leader of the House of Commons, 50, won praise for her arm strength and composure after carrying two ceremonial blades at Westminster Abbey - one of them weighing 81b.

She yesterday denied any gruelling training was needed, saying: "I was not in the gym for six months prior to this.

But speaking to the BBC, she added: "You want to make sure you are in good nick. I did take a couple of painkillers to make sure I was going to be alright.

"It was only half of the ceremony I had to carry the Sword of State, the really heavy one, and then I traded it in for the very exquisite Jewelled Sword of Offering, which is much lighter.