The soubriquet "bicycling monarchy" is largely an invention of the press.

CNN: What Dutch 'bicycling monarchs' can teach world's royals

According to the Independent, Mr Mitchell is said to have earned the soubriquet "thrasher" during his days as a pupil at Rugby school, because of his "stern disciplinarian" tendencies.

BBC: Andrew Mitchell

Mr Black said there could well be people - from foreign agents to home-grown lunatics - who might "want a pop at C" the name the head of MI6 is given (the director general of MI5 has not been known by the soubriquet "K" since the 1940s.).

BBC: Security risks of social networks