. . . will celebrate the birth of Buckingham Palace's Royal cat, Sir Shealord Grey XXV, who turns 12 today. The progeny of generations of blue-blooded palace cats, Sir Shealord has served the Royal Family as Royal Head Mouser for most of his adult life. "It's been a glorious career," Sir Shealord purred during a recent interview with the Morning Hairball. "What an indescribable honor it's been to protect the Palace of the Royal Human Valets. And what an unutterable joy it's been to have unlimited access to the Palace Mice who often overflow the Royal Palace's basement." When asked how his career years have stacked up against those of his honorable forebears, Sir Shealord turned humble. "As wonderful as it's been to cavort with the Royal Human Valets and Palace Mice, and to serve as leader of the Royal Palace Mousing Squad, I must say that my ancestors had even greater honors in their lives." For example, Sir Shealord cited the time that the Beatles performed for the Human Valets, and were waited upon hand and foot by his esteemed great, great grandfather, Sir Shealord Grey XXII. "Sir Paul McCartney, it turned out, does not like mice," Sir Shealord explained to us, with a proud wag of his tail. Sir Shealord expects to spend his big day being feted by admirers, enjoying extra helpings of Palace Mice, and generally kicking up his paws and taking a well-earned day off.