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Mordaunt says bored King Charles paused Coronation rehearsal to show Prince Louis the Crown Jewels

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Penny Mordaunt recalled that King Charles, bored after two weeks of rehearsals, paused a dress rehearsal to show Prince Louis the Crown Jewels. She also described waiting in slippers before the 2023 Coronation.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Mail
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Dame Penny Mordaunt, the former defence secretary and Lord President of the Privy Council, told an audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival that King Charles was 'bored out of his mind' during rehearsals for his Coronation. Left · 1She said the dress rehearsal took place on the Thursday before the ceremony, after the King had 'just done two weeks of this', and that she watched him 'glaze over in the coronation chair'. Mixed · 2According to Mordaunt, the King 'suddenly sprung to life' when Prince Louis, then five, came to visit, and the rehearsal was stopped so he could show the boy the Crown Jewels, a memory she said she will 'treasure'.

Mixed · 2Mordaunt carried the ceremonial Sword of State at the Coronation on 6 May 2023; the Daily Mail gives its weight as 3.6kg and the Daily Mirror as 8lb. Mixed · 2She also described the wait before the ceremony: with the procession still passing through London, she refused to put on her heels and stood in the Westminster Abbey cloisters in 'great big fluffy slippers' beside Pursuivants of Arms who had Fruit Pastilles in their robes, fearing she would forget to change shoes. Left · 1The Mirror adds that a member of staff offered to hold the sword until she needed it, and recalls her earlier remarks that a royal family member jokingly wrote to her about stealing the show and that she took painkillers before carrying the sword.

Right · 1The Mail adds background: Mordaunt was the first woman to present the Jewelled Sword of Offering to a monarch, was praised for her composure, and had announced Queen Elizabeth II's death at the 2022 Accession Council.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Daily Mirror presents a light, behind-the-scenes royal anecdote, leading with the King's boredom and a 'sweet moment' with his grandson.
Emphasis
The Louis moment, Mordaunt's earlier quips (painkillers, a royal letter about stealing the show).
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the Accession Council or Mordaunt's dress choice or the 'first woman' detail.
Charged language
“sweet moment”
For example
“including a sweet moment he shared with his grandson” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Daily Mail also treats it as a light royal anecdote, with a headline stressing the King 'sprung to life' once Louis visited, and adds background on Mordaunt's profile and fashion.
Emphasis
Mordaunt's outfit, praise from Labour MPs, her role in the Accession Council, and the sword's weight.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits her earlier remarks about painkillers and the royal family's joking letter.
Charged language
“bored out of his mind”“sprung to life”
For example
“declined to wear the black and gold privy councillor court outfit worn by her male sword-carrying predecessors” — Daily Mail