Now that her Senate ambitions have come to an end, attention returned to the earlier prospect of her pursuing an ambassadorial career. During the campaign Ms Kennedy was mooted as a possible US ambassador to Britain or to the United Nations. The UN job has been filled but she could still be named to the Court of St James’s.

Her grandfather, Joseph Kennedy, served as US Ambassador to Britain from 1938 until 1940. He is remembered for his strong support for the policy of appeasing Hitler.