Downing Street officials draw up plans for announcing death of Larry the cat in similar manner to Queen Elizabeth II
Downing Street officials draw up plans for announcing death of Larry the cat in similar manner to Queen Elizabeth II
Liz Truss’s least favourite feline is a national treasure but could be near the last of his nine lives
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/16691148
Downing Street officials are reportedly planning how to announce the eventual passing of Larry, the No 10 chief mouser.
The 17-year-old tabby, while currently healthy, is in his twilight years.
Larry has become a fixture of Downing Street, known for his patrols of the grounds and occasional confrontations with local wildlife. His encounters with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat, have often made headlines.
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He has also outlasted five prime ministers and famously refused Liz Truss the chance to stroke him.
But although Larry can count himself among the more popular residents of the street in recent years his demise will happen at some point and officials are now preparing.
In a similar manner to how insiders had a code for when the Queen passed away, there is set to be an official way that the cat’s death will be broken to the nation.
According to The Times, officials will say “Larry bridges” when the cat passes - a reference to ‘London Bridge is falling down’, the code for when Elizabeth II died.
Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still ‘in tactical planning stage’.
I love it. No notes.
A cat who makes headlines and have endless humans fawn over them is the dream for every cat. I wish I could be delighted by it, but since it's just more goddamn I WAS BORN BETTER THAN YOU SO I LIVE I LUXURY AND SO DOES MY CAT royalty bullshit it's sad and infuriating.
Larry was bought from Battersea Cats Home in 2011, originally as a pet for the children of the then prime minister David Cameron.
But the chief mouser has long outlasted the Conservative PM and all of his Tory successors, including Rishi Sunak, Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Larry was a rescue cat that was just got as a pet but has become popular because he's been far more likeable than any other incumbent of Number 10.
The only link to royalty is that some civil servant got bored/drunk one afternoon and decided to do this for fun, riffing on all the intricate plans for when Liz 2 popped her clogs. I'm guessing.
But you gotta admit that’s so stereotypically British though.