Penny Mordaunt's popularity has surged among Tory grassroots since her sword-carrying role at the King's Coronation.

The Tory MP for Portsmouth North was widely praised for how she carried out her official duties as Lord President of the Privy Council at the crowning ceremony earlier this month.

Donning a teal dress and cape, which featured a golf leaf embroidery motif, she held the 8lb (3.6kg) Sword of State aloft for 51 minutes before a global audience of millions.

It impressed not only royal spectators – but the grassroots Conservative base too.

Conservative Home's latest survey of Tory members for May shows that Ms Mordaunt has risen to the second most popular minister in Rishi Sunak's Cabinet, up from fourth place last month.

Her net satisfaction rating is now 62.4, compared to 49.5 in April, according to the monthly poll of 3,300 party members found.