Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said his animal menagerie is getting involved to help with the coronation preparations (Picture: @attlee_the_speakers_cat / Instagram)
With just a few days to go until the Coronation of King Charles III, preparations across London are well underway.
The full rehearsal has been carried out, the regalia are polished and the ceremonial roles have been chosen.
But of course, it’s important Westminster is put in order too – and that’s where none other than Attlee, the speaker’s cat, comes in.
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said his animal menagerie is getting involved to help with the coronation preparatory measures.
‘Attlee has been going round to check there aren’t any mice around and there were absolutely none,’ he insisted.
He said his parrot, Boris, has also been ‘shouting quite loudly’.
‘We’ve been trying to get him to sing God Save The King. He’s been listening very carefully,’ Sir Lindsay added.
Apparently Attlee has carried out a mouse check ahead of the coronation (Picture: @attlee_the_speakers_cat / Instagram)
Sir Lindsay insists there are ‘absolutely no’ mice (Picture: @attlee_the_speakers_cat / Instagram)
He suggested they ‘may be getting coronation strawberries’ as a reward for their efforts.
Sir Lindsay brought his animals down to London from his home in Lancashire, and as well as Attlee and Boris include Maggie, the tortoise who is ‘not for turning’.
He also has a dog called Betty, who is named after Sir Lindsay’s late predecessor Baroness Betty Boothroyd.
The speaker is set to host a celebratory reception in the Palace of Westminster tomorrow to mark the historic ceremony.
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For all the latest royal updates, visit Metro.co.uk’s dedicated coronation page.
Camilla and Charles will meet with prime minister Rishi Sunak and leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, in Westminster Hall.
Attlee is ready for the coronation – are you? (Picture: @attlee_the_speakers_cat / Instagram)
Sir Lindsay brought his animals down to London from his home in Lancashire (Picture: @attlee_the_speakers_cat / Instagram)
Sir Lindsay said it was a ‘wonderful privilege’ to be invited to the ceremony itself, even though Attlee won’t be making an appearance.
He said: ‘I have never known the monarch to object to what the House of Commons does. I never, ever see that happening.
‘What I see is a grown-up recognition of democracy in this country, that we still have a monarch that plays his part.
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‘I’ve got to say, what a privilege that we’ve got the sadness of Her Majesty, but we’ve now got the sunrise of a new King coming.’
Westminster Hall is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate, and was where Queen Elizabeth II was lying in state in September.
It was previously the scene of coronation banquets and where monarchs received their regalia before leaving for the Abbey, but these ceremonies have not taken place since George IV’s extravagant coronation in 1821.
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‘Attlee has been going round to check there aren’t any mice around and there were absolutely none.’
