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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Martin Belam

Princess Anne’s ‘panto’ hat and more become Twitter’s coronation stars

Princess Anne Penny Mordaunt Prince Louis Liz Truss Dick Whittington James Bond
Princess Anne arrives at Westminster Abbey wearing a costume for the coronation of a feathered hat and green cape
Princess Anne’s costume was likened to Dick Whittington and an 18th-century soldier. Photograph: Peter Tarry/AP

The combination of a televised national event and people glued to social media generates breakout stars at any event, and Saturday’s coronation was no different, with Penny Mordaunt and Princess Anne battling it out for the title of who had caught Twitter’s eye the most.

Some suggested that after Mordaunt’s failed bid to become Conservative leader, Liz Truss’s attempt to shuffle her away from the limelight had bitterly backfired.

Truss was, of course, there herself. Her perpetual attendance at events like this alongside the likes of John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will be a reminder for the rest of her life that she was the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.

There were also concerns about where Mordaunt might threaten to run amok next.

It was a close call on VAR.

Given Mordaunt’s famous turn on the diving talent contest Splash!, it was inevitable that a prominent role in a coronation carrying a sword was going to invite comparisons with the mythical Lady of the Lake.

Mordaunt had commissioned her own dress for the day, but people thought they’d spotted some subtle sponsorship at play.

Princess Anne’s costume was Mordaunt’s main rival for attention, with some people seeing it as having an air of going into battle in the 18th century.

It is a bit early for panto season though.

If you were on Team William and Kate, rather than Team Harry and Meghan, then there was excitement that Princess Anne’s strategically placed feather was obscuring the Duke of Sussex in television footage.

It recalled the role a candle had played at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in obscuring the presence of Harry’s wife Meghan.

This photo showed though that were at least some nice moments between Harry and his aunt.

Fans of Monty Python also had a moment in the sun, when they appeared to spot the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

For viewers of a certain age, the seemingly endless procession of regalia being passed to the king and queen reminded them of the conveyer belt on a Saturday gameshow that has long been off our screens.

The contribution of Prince Louis to the day did not go unnoticed by social media users either, particularly the way he was dressed as either Luke Skywalker or James Bond, depending on your preferred take.

And finally …

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