Mordaunt: King was bored at Coronation rehearsals until Louis stepped in

Dame Penny Mordaunt told the Cheltenham Literature Festival that King Charles III was "bored out of his mind" during rehearsals for the Coronation in May 2023. Her account was reported by The Telegraph on 11 October 2026.

Mordaunt said the King had already done two weeks of rehearsals and "had enough". She said she watched him "glaze over" while sitting in the coronation chair, the historic seat used for the crowning in Westminster Abbey.

Then help arrived. Prince Louis, the youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, came to visit rehearsals. Louis was five years old at the time. Mordaunt said his grandfather "sprung to life".

The rehearsal was stopped so the King could show his grandson the Crown Jewels, the regalia used in the service, according to Hello! Magazine. Rehearsals are run-throughs held in the Abbey before the service itself. This one gave way to a family tour.

Mordaunt had a front-row view. She carried the Sword of State, the 4ft, 8lb ceremonial sword presented to the monarch during the Coronation, into the Abbey and held it for more than an hour before presenting it to King Charles. She spoke about the role at the festival, which is listed as running from 9 to 18 October 2026.

She has spoken before about the attention that moment brought her. In an earlier account she said she received a letter from a member of the Royal Family joking that she had stolen the show from King Charles and Queen Camilla.

What makes this stand out is the picture of rehearsal as hard grind. Two weeks of practice. A glazed look. Then a five-year-old walks in and the whole mood lifts.