Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds are engaged and expecting a baby in early summer, they announced tonight.
On her Instagram this evening, Ms Symonds shared an intimate photo of her and the PM and wrote: ‘I wouldn’t normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me.
‘Many of you already know but for my friends that still don’t, we got engaged at the end of last year… and we’ve got a baby hatching early summer.’
The date of their wedding has not been announced, but it will mark the first time in at least 250 years a sitting prime minister has married while in office.
The Prime Minister, 55, has five confirmed children, however this will be the first child born to his 31-year-old partner.
Mr Johnson, who has been married twice previously, this month finalised his divorce with estranged wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has two daughters and two sons. Tonight, Downing Street would not confirmed if the decree absolute had been granted.
While he was still married, he began dating PR guru and Tory adviser Ms Symonds, and the couple are believed to have been in a relationship for over a year.
A spokesperson for the couple said tonight: ‘The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are very pleased to announce their engagement and that they are expecting a baby in the early summer.’
Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds are engaged and expecting a baby in early summer
Ms Symonds is the first unmarried partner of an incumbent British prime minister. She has largely kept out of the public eye since Mr Johnson, 55, took the reins of government in July (pictured February 14, the last time Ms Symonds was seen)
Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson, who live together in Downing Street, recently enjoyed a luxury Caribbean vacation in Mustique.
The couple’s relationship has been firmly in the public spotlight, and a row in her Camberwell flat during last summer’s Tory leadership election wobbled Mr Johnson’s bid for the top job.
Yesterday, it emerged Ms Symonds had hired a media professional to handle her communications and help on her campaigns as she molds into the role of the UK’s first lady.
But she has already been described as the power behind the throne, with reports of her and Downing Street supremo Dominic Cummings in a tug of war for the PM’s ear.
Ms Symonds is the first unmarried partner of an incumbent British prime minister. She has largely kept out of the public eye since Mr Johnson, 55, took the reins of government in July.
She was scarcely seen at the PM’s side on the general election campaign trail, but waved with her soon-to-be husband on the steps outside the famous black door following the Conservatives’ thumping victory.
The couple chose to live at the larger four-bedroom flat at No 11 Downing Street instead of the smaller two-bedroom official residence at No 10.
They already share a dog, Dilyn, with the PM saying that he helped keep his stress down during the election campaign.
The Prime Minister leaving Downing Street on Valentine’s Day, shortly before he and partner Ms Symonds announced their engagement tonight
Ms Symonds waved with her soon-to-be husband on the steps outside the famous black door following the Conservatives thumping victory
While he was still married, he began dating PR guru and Tory adviser Ms Symonds, and the couple are believed to have been dating for close to two years (pictured in 2019 at the party conference in Manchester)
Boris Johnson Election Night. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds watch the 2019 Election results on the TV in his study in No10 Downing Stree
Boris Johnson finally settled his divorce with estranged wife Marina Wheeler just 11 days ago
Boris Johnson with estranged wife Marina Wheeler (pictured together in 2018)
Boris Johnson only settled his divorce with estranged wife Marina Wheeler 11 days before announcing he and girlfriend Carrie Symonds are engaged and expecting a baby.
The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, were given the go-ahead to officially end their marriage of more than 25 years on February 18.
Based on Mr Johnson’s estimated cash and assets, Ms Wheeler could be receiving around £4million if split equally between the two.
Just 11 days after the settlement, a spokesperson for Mr Johnson, 55, and his 31-year-old partner announced that the couple are expecting their first baby together.
Last Tuesday, Judge Sarah Gibbons oversaw a private hearing in the Central Family Court in London, which neither party attended.
During the short hearing, she gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for a Decree Absolute, which would bring the marriage to an end.
A case number revealed Mr Johnson and Ms Wheeler were involved in a dispute over money or assets.
Marina Claire Wheeler was named as the ‘petitioner’ and ‘applicant’ in the case, while Alexander Boris De Pfeffel Johnson was named as the ‘respondent’.
Mr Johnson was said to have had £6.5million in cash and assets as of September 2018, but will have likely seen his wealth rise since becoming Prime Minister last July.
It is therefore plausible that Ms Wheeler will be receiving around £4million if it is an equal split.
However, the judge said no detail from the case relating to money can be revealed in reports, apart from what is already in the public domain.
Judge Gibbons gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for the decree absolute ‘out of time’. This suggests that she was granted a decree nisi by the courts more than a year ago.
It has been suggested in the past that Ms Symonds could not become a fully-fledged ‘first lady’ until the couple were married.
Mr Johnson was coy when asked about the subject last year, telling reporters that marriage speculation was ‘a tiny bit premature’.
Charlotte, James and even Winston are the bookies’ favourites for potential baby names – with odds for the name ‘Brexit’ at 1000/1.
The couple have their own affectionate names for each other, with her reportedly calling him ‘Bozzie Bear’, while he refers to her as ‘Otter’.
Ex-Chancellor Sajid Javid, who was defenestrated by the PM in the recent reshuffle, was one of the first to offer congratulations to Mr Johnson Ms Symonds, who is his former special adviser.
Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson wrote: ‘Congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds.’
Ms Davidson, who had been critical of Mr Johnson during the European referendum campaign, stepped down as Scottish leader last year to spend more time with her young family.
Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, called the baby and wedding announcement ‘lovely news’.
The Conservative MP said: ‘Congratulations to both Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. Happy news!’
But Mr Johnson’s political rivals questioned the convenience of the timing of the announcement, which comes as the government is taking fire for its slow response to the coronavirus outbreak, the PM going AWOL during the flooding crisis and bitter rifts at the top of the Home Office.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols tweeted: ‘Congratulations to the happy couple notwithstanding, it’s truly remarkable that the announcement JUST HAPPENED to be on the day of the unprecedented resignation of top Home Office official Sir Philip Rutnam who will be taking a case of constructive dismissal against the Govt.’
And Labour MP Florence Eshalomi said it was ‘very convenient’ for the Prime Minister and Ms Symonds to make their announcement tonight.
Several political commentators tonight also mooted the announcement as a distraction ploy to the government’s current woes.
Previous prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair both had Downing Street babies, Florence in 2010, and Leo in 2000, respectively.
The last babies born to prime ministers before Leo and Florence arrived more than 150 years ago, when Lord John Russell’s wife gave birth to two sons, George and Francis, during her husband’s first stint in office between 1846 and 1852.
Mr Johnson is first prime minister to be divorced in office in modern times, and his union with Ms Symonds will be his third marriage.
Earlier this month, a court heard that the Prime Minister and his estranged second wife Marina Wheeler were preparing to end their marriage after reaching an agreement over money.
A family court judge approved a financial settlement and gave Ms Wheeler permission to apply for a divorce decree.
Ms Wheeler and Mr Johnson, who have four children, separated in 2018 after marrying in 1993.
The PM was a childhood friend of Ms Wheeler – the daughter of BBC journalist Charles Wheeler – when both were pupils at the European School in Brussels.
Mr Johnson met his first wife, Allegra Mostyn-Owen, while they were students at Oxford. They married in 1987, but the marriage was annulled in 1993.
In 2013 it emerged during another court hearing that Mr Johnson had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009.
In 2004, he was sacked from the Tory frontbench over a reported affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt.
The couple chose to live at the larger four-bedroom flat at No 11 Downing Street instead of the smaller two-bedroom official residence at No 10
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds, they have announced that they are expecting a baby in the early summer and that they have got engaged
Former chancellor Sajid Javid put his recent differences with the PM to one side and congratulated the couple on their baby news
The couple already share a dog, Dilyn, together with the PM saying that he helped keep his stress down during the election campaign
Boris and Carrie’s ‘Brexit baby’ – How Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds made history as first unmarried couple to live together in Downing Street
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street.
The 55-year-old Prime Minister and 31-year-old conservationist, whose relationship has been the subject of intense intrigue, are now getting ready to welcome what may be referred to as a ‘Brexit baby’.
Ms Symonds, a former Conservative Party communications chief, found herself making headlines when she was romantically linked to Mr Johnson last year just months after the announcement of his separation from second wife Marina Wheeler.
The public relations expert had been in the so-called Westminster Bubble for most of her remarkably ascendant career, a high-point being when she was made head of party PR aged just 29.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks with his partner Carrie Symonds as they arrive at The Midland, near the Manchester Central convention complex in Manchester
Mr Johnson, who has been married twice previously, recently finalised his divorce with estranged wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has two daughters and two sons
In 2004 Mr Johnson was sacked from the Tory front-bench over a reported affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt (pictured at the Spectator Magazine Summer Party in 2006)
Ms Symonds joined the Tory party media machine in 2009, first as a press adviser, then head of broadcast at Conservative campaign headquarters ahead of the 2015 general election.
Her association with Mr Johnson dates back to the early years, having worked on his successful re-election bid at City Hall in 2012.
But a row that saw police called to their home in the early stages of the Conservative leadership race offered a glimpse into the complicated private life about which Mr Johnson tries desperately to avoid answering questions.
The couple had been living together at Ms Symonds’s flat in Camberwell, south London, until the well-publicised row recorded by neighbours in June 2019.
They now live in a flat above Number 11 Downing Street and have adopted a Jack Russell-cross puppy called Dilyn.
In December, Mr Johnson’s sister Rachel Johnson said she has yet to meet Ms Symonds.
But their father Stanley, who appeared alongside Ms Johnson on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, said he has met Ms Symonds, adding: ‘The Johnsons are united in this.’
Back in January last year, Ms Symonds was joined by Stanley Johnson at an event in London opposing Japan’s plans to resume commercial whaling.
The pair were spotted smiling and chatting together after they both addressed the crowd.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s turbulent marriage to Ms Wheeler, during which they had four children, ended after 25 years together in September 2018.
In 2004 he was sacked from the Tory front-bench over a reported affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt and the Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while mayor of London in 2009.
Claims that Mr Johnson squeezed the thigh of journalist Charlotte Edwardes, at a private lunch at The Spectator magazine’s HQ shortly after he became editor in 1999, overshadowed his first Conservative Party conference as PM.
But in a public display of affection, Mr Johnson kissed Ms Symonds after his speech to party members at the event.
Mr Johnson greeted Cabinet ministers before embracing his girlfriend, kissing her on the cheek and then walking out of the hall holding her hand.
Meanwhile, allegations about Mr Johnson’s relationship with American entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri, and whether she enjoyed preferential treatment while he was London mayor, also dominated the headlines in September.
Boris Johnson and his first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen on their wedding day 5th September 1987, the couple were Oxford University sweethearts
Carrie Symonds, partner of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his father Stanley Johnson. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds have announced that they are expecting a baby in the early summer and that they have got engaged
‘I wonder if she asked him?!’ Twitter users joke Carrie Symonds might have proposed to Boris Johnson as is tradition on a Leap Day (and did Alastair Campbell reveal the news one day early?)
By James Mills and Joseph Laws for MailOnline
Jokers took to Twitter to congratulate and rib Boris Johnson in equal measure after his baby announcement tonight with one predicting the PM could soon boast: ‘Got pregnancy done!’
Mr Johnson’s announcement that he and Carrie Symonds are expecting a baby and have got engaged also sparked speculation as to whether she proposed to him as it’s February 29 – the day that traditionally women go down on one knee instead of men.
Among the jokes on social media one wag cheekily suggested that Mr Johnson ‘obviously had no withdrawal agreement with Carrie.’
There were also hints that the couple’s news had been an open secret in Westminster as rumours circulated since last year.
And Alastair Campbell seems to have tried to steel the Prime Minister’s thunder by hinting at the baby news in a tweet yesterday when he said he had ‘a nursery to decorate’.
One Twitter user joked Mr Johnson might have a new slogan to replace getting Brexit done
It seems Alastair Campbell had an early heads up about the Prime Minister’s baby
There were jokes on social media about how far the influence of Dominic Cummings goes
The Leap Day is traditionally the day that women can ‘go down on one knee’
Tony Blair’s former spin doctor was replying to a tweet by ex-Chancellor George Osborne calling on Mr Johnson to step up efforts to stop the coronavirus.
Mr Campbell replied: ‘But he has a book to finish George, a nursery to decorate, children to count … a country to shame.’
One Twitter user joked that there ‘was obviously no withdrawal agreement’ and another suggested Boris would soon boast that he’s ‘got pregnancy done’ in reference to the Tory Brexit slogan.
Another cheekily pointed out that the last time the Prime Minister got married Miss Symonds was still at primary school. Miss Symonds was just five when Mr Johnson wed lawyer Marina Wheeler in May 1993.
Another joker tweeted that Number 10 political strategist Dominic Cummings ‘has final approval on baby names.’
And one joked about the apparent uncertainty as to how many children Mr Johnson now has.
Cheeky Twitter users made fun of the age gap between the couple
Twitter users joked about Boris’s baby announcement
There appears to be some uncertainty as to how many children Mr Johnson now has
BBC political presenter Paul Waugh suggested the PM was trying to ‘bury bad news’
It appears that rumours had been circulating about the couple’s news since last year
The life and times of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson
1964: Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson was born in New York and moved house 32 times by the age of 14
1977: Attended Eton where teachers said he had a ‘disgracefully cavalier attitude’
Mr Johnson in the Spectator offices under his editorship
1983: Went to Oxford after winning a scholarship to study classics, and joined the infamous Bullingdon Club
1987: Graduated with a 2:1 and was taken on as a graduate trainee at the Times – before being quickly sacked
1989: Secured a job at the Daily Telegraph after inviting editor Max Hastings to speak at the Oxford Union and was promoted to Brussels correspondent aged 25
1994: Made Telegraph’s assistant editor and chief political columnist and given a column in the Spectator
1998: Appeared on Have I Got News for You and made the audience laugh while discussing Guppy tape
1999: Made editor of The Spectator and stayed on for four years
2001: Became MP for Henley until 2008
2008: Served as Mayor of London until 2016
2016: Foreign Secretary until 2018
2019: In July he was elected leader of the Conservative Party and became Prime Minister
December 2019: Won a crushing election victory and returned to Downing Street with an 80-seat majority