Boris Johnson Thanks Dog, Mentions Cat in Farewell Speech but Forgets Wife

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked a dog and mentioned a cat during his farewell speech outside No.10 Downing Street in London early on Tuesday morning but appears to have forgotten his wife.

Johnson, who will tender his resignation as leader of the government later, made a brief address outside the prime minister's residence before flying to Scotland to meet Queen Elizabeth II.

The former Conservative leader took time to mention his dog, Dilyn, and the famous Downing Street cat, Larry, but didn't thank his wife, Carrie Johnson, whom he married last year.

"Thank you to everybody who has helped look after me and my family over the last three years, including Dilyn the dog," Johnson said.

"I just say to my party, if Dilyn and Larry can put behind them their occasional difficulties, then so can the Conservative Party," he added.

Johnson was referring to the recent Conservative leadership election where Foreign Secretary Liz Truss triumphed on Monday over Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor.

Larry the cat is well known in the U.K. and is often pictured outside Downing Street during news reports. He has served as chief mouser to the Cabinet Office since 2011 and has outlasted three prime ministers so far.

"Above all, thanks to you, the British people, to the voters for giving me the chance to serve—all of you who worked so tirelessly together to beat COVID, to put us where we are today," Johnson said on Tuesday morning.

He also compared himself to the Roman leader Cincinnatus who, as legend has it, was called to lead the Romans during an invasion, forcing him to leave his farm, but gave up power voluntarily after victory in 16 days and came back to his fields.

"And, like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plough," Johnson said. "And I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support."

However, Johnson's reference to Cincinnatus may also be an indication that he still believes he can return to front-line politics and may be called back by the Conservatives.

After his farewell address, Johnson departed London and flew to Scotland to formally offer his resignation to the queen, as is traditional. The 96-year-old monarch, who has suffered mobility issues, is in residence at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire and chose not to travel back to the capital to meet Johnson and Truss.

Once the queen has accepted his resignation, she will meet with Truss and ask the new Conservative leader to form a government in her name. Truss will then accept the position and "kiss hands" before returning to London to name a cabinet.

Truss will become the fourth Conservative leader and fourth prime minister in 12 years after a leadership race that was dominated by domestic concerns, including the rising cost of energy bills.