Foreign Office cat Palmerston to leave Whitehall for quiet life in the countryside

One of the most popular faces in Whitehall, Palmerston the Foreign Office cat, is retiring for a quiet life in the countryside.

The affectionately-nicknamed “Diplo Mogg” is meowing out after four years of service, having found “working from home” during the coronavirus outbreak a much more “relaxed, quieter and easier” life.

In a letter penned by his official Twitter account, Palmerston insisted it was no dead cat strategy by Downing Street.

He said it was simply because he’s enjoyed climbing trees and patrolling the fields around his new residence away from the hubbub of central London.

But some will see the news as a power grab by Larry the Downing Street cat, who had several hair-raising run-ins with Palmerston over the years.

“Of course I love the hustle and bustle of the office,” Palmerston wrote in a post titled “important news” tweeted on Friday.

“I will miss hearing the footsteps of an ambassador and sprinting to my hideout to see who it is.

“My signature moves – pretending to be asleep while overhearing all the foreign dignitaries conversations – will be a major loss for our intelligence gathering.

“But as I grow older, I must take a step back from diplomatic duties and enjoy some me-time.”

He signed off the message to his more than 100,000 Twitter followers with a promise.

“Although I am ending my formal role here, I will always be an ambassador for the UK and the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”

Sir Simon McDonald, the outgoing chief civil servant in the department, paid tribute to Palmerston – who is named after a former prime minister.

He said since arriving from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, the cat has become a “social media phenomenon” and added: “Everyone at the Foreign Office will miss him.”