Penny shines in the Abbey

"I reckon Penny could hold that sword upright longer than Liz Truss served as prime minister."

For sure, the women stole the show. Penny Mordaunt, Lord President of the Council, displayed two stunning qualities: her poise in an understated teal outfit with a cloak and by wielding that hefty sword. She earned genuine admiration from everyone who saw it. Don't mess with Penny.

She only got the job because Liz Truss wanted her out of the way. Having run against each other in the race for leadership of the Tories, Truss reckoned she could keep Penny out of sight and busy as the Lord President. Yet, like everything that Liz Truss touches, it backfired. Also, Truss must be kicking herself because she lost an opportunity for a bit of cosplay.

Even the opposition politicians couldn't hold back their praise for Mordaunt. And with Prime Minister Sunak on the ropes after Friday's drubbing in the local elections, Mordaunt may get another run at the top job. She wouldn't be the first politician to leverage a royal outing to her advantage.

Meanwhile, Truss sat relegated to the pews with former prime ministers. Every appearance reinforces the awfulness of her short reign by drawing comparisons with people who lasted more than 15 days in office. I reckon Penny could hold that sword upright longer than Truss served as prime minister.

Kate was also impressive, looking more regal than the rest put together. Admittedly, her outfit is from another era; nonetheless, she carried it gracefully to project nobility recast with a modern tone. In Kate, the Windsors have a not so-secret weapon that may yet shore up their shaky standing.

Also, full marks to Anne. The Princess Royal, who at 72, managed a quick change out of her Dick Whittington outfit at the Abbey to ride the horse "Falkland" down The Mall. Subtle messaging there. She's still got the chops and made a profound impression.

Of course, it's accidental that Anne's hat played a tactical role throughout the proceedings in the Abbey by blocking the camera angle on a particular chap in row three. He didn't linger, no doubt fearful of getting told off from 'her indoors' back in Montecito. Or maybe he feared the boos that greeted Uncle Andrew on The Mall.

Teressa Coffey, the environmental minister and Liz Truss's confidant, also deserves a mention. Her homage to "sightly potty aunt at a wedding" was flawlessly executed.

In the Abbey, all the anointing, incantations and other palaver went on too long, while the music didn't meet expectations. At the point of the crowning, it failed to match the moment's significance. Likewise, an interlude of gospel singing sounded out of place, although delivered with zest.

Meanwhile, out in the rain, the military did a superb job with a parade we won't see again in London. Regrettably, with the low cloud, the RAF only managed a token fly-pass of helicopters and the Red Arrows. Such conditions rarely stopped the RAF from reaching Berlin, but times have changed. Shame.

The awful weather didn't deter the crowds who thronged The Mall. Further afield, Liverpool fans voiced their opinions, although the police weren't tolerating such vocal anti-monarchy sentiments in London. The leaders of the republican movement faced arrest as they arrived on site. Besides, several ladies were taken away for possessing rape alarms. I suspect we've not heard the last of these interventions, and the Met may struggle to explain aspects of its policing.

It is natural to draw comparisons with actions taken here around protests. The Met is acting with new draconian laws that surpass any provisions in Hong Kong. Hence, a polite reminder of events in their backyard is necessary the next time UK politicians start venting their spleen at Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the coronation, elsewhere in London, life and death went on as usual, with a 16-year-old and two men killed in stabbings.