Boris Johnson’s second divorce has been granted, leaving him free to plan his wedding with fiancee Carrie Symonds when lockdown restrictions are eased.
Marina Wheeler, 55, shares four of the Prime Minister’s six children and applied for a decree absolute in February.
It is understood that this was granted before Ms Symonds gave birth to Mr Johnson’s sixth child Wilfred last week.
Ms Wheeler, a leading barrister, started divorce proceedings last year after she and Mr Johnson separated in 2018.
Based on Mr Johnson’s estimated cash and assets, Ms Wheeler could receive around £4million from the divorce.
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds are free to plan their wedding after coronavirus lockdown is eased, with the PM’s divorce granted
Ms Wheeler, a leading barrister, started divorce proceedings last year after she and Mr Johnson separated in 2018
On February 18, she obtained permission from the Central Family Court in London to apply for a decree absolute.
The Mirror now understands the paperwork was filed “immediately” and the decree was issued.
Mr Johnson and Ms Wheeler had four children during their 27-year-marriage – Lara Lettice, who is 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20.
The Prime Minister also has a fifth child, an 11-year-old daughter Stephanie, with art consultant Helen McIntyre.
He was previously married to socialite Allegra Mostyn-Owen from 1987 to 1993.
Sonia Purnell, Mr Johnson’s former colleague at the Telegraph and author of his biography Just Boris, said his ex-wife played a pivotal role in his pollical career.
She told the Mirror: ‘Marina was a very important and supportive figure in Boris’s career.
‘She persuaded him to take the McPherson Report into institutional racism in the police seriously.
‘She persuaded him, as Mayor of London, to be more liberal on issues like immigration.
‘He does owe her an awful lot. She has been a real stabilising influence in his life.’
The PM and his partner revealed their new son’s full name as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson last week
Since Ms Wheeler and Mr Johnson separated two years ago, she has surgery for cervical cancer last year and her mother Dip Singh died in February at the age of 87.
She said her cancer diagnosis made her appreciate the ‘value of holding close those who you love and trust.’
A source close to the family told the Mirror: ‘Marina has been through so much over the last two years. Fortunately her family have been very close and supportive, particularly her sister Shirin.
‘Marina was an equal in that marriage. There was a point where Boris seemed to have a sense of real regret that he had endangered his marriage with his affairs.
Carrie Symonds (pictured on March 9) revealed the name of her and Boris Johnson’s newborn son as Wilfred, after the Prime Minister’s grandfather
The couple revealed the boy’s full name as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, with the first name a tribute to Mr Johnson’s paternal grandfather, Osman Wilfred Kemal (pictured)
‘Although there is no doubt she was hugely hurt by all his betrayals she would have no interest in standing in his way. She will want to move on with the next part of her life.’
Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds announced they were engaged on February 29, while also announcing they were having a baby in early summer.
The couple’s first child, a son, was born on April 29.
The PM and his partner revealed their new son’s full name as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson last week, with the first name a tribute to Mr Johnson’s paternal grandfather, Osman Wilfred Kemal, and Lawrie a reference to Ms Symonds’ grandfather.
In a heart-warming Instagram post, Ms Symonds’ said that the middle name Nicholas was a tribute to two NHS doctors ‘that saved Boris’ life last month’ following his battle with coronavirus.
Accompanying the caption was a photograph in which the first-time mother was seen tightly cradling her son, who sported an extraordinary full head of hair not dissimilar to that of his father.