Marriage and a baby were ‘non-negotiable’ for Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds

0
436

MARRIAGE and a baby were “non-negotiable” for Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds.

Yesterday it was announced the Prime Minister is to become a dad for the sixth time — and will be the first PM in nearly 200 years to marry while in office.

Writing on her private Instagram account, Carrie said: “We got engaged at the end of last year… and we’ve got a baby hatching early summer”
Boris and Carrie outside Number 10 after the election victory
The couple first went public with their relationship during his leadership bid in June 2019
Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at a hotel ahead of the Conservative Party annual conference in Manchester

He and PR executive Carrie Symonds, his live-in lover, broke the news of their happy double last night.

A source told the Mail on Sunday: “That is what she has always wanted, a condition of their relationship, almost. And he was happy to oblige.”

A No10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and Miss Symonds are very pleased to announce their engagement and that they are expecting a baby in early summer.”

HOAR understands Carrie is six months pregnant with the baby due in late May or early June.

The couple, who have been together for around two years, got engaged at the end of last year but kept it secret from all but their closest pals until now.

Thrilled Carrie, 31 — already the first unmarried partner of a sitting PM — last night posted an Instagram picture of Boris kissing her on the cheek.

She 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. Feel incredibly blessed.”

The shock announcement came just 11 days after Boris, 55, reached a settlement with his estranged wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has four children, aged 20 to 26.

Their divorce is yet to be finalised — so delaying the date of his and Carrie’s wedding.

But a pal said they will want to wed soon to avoid having an unmarried mum at No10.

‘BOTH DELIGHTED’

A No.10 source added: “Boris and Carrie are both delighted at this news.

“They have both known for a while but have kept it under wraps until the pregnancy progressed.

“It partly explains why he has been lying low recently – although he works flat out and that won’t change.

“Carrie is thrilled and she will also continue to work on her environmental projects.”

Mr Johnson also has a fifth child, who was born in 2009 after an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre.

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid was among the first to congratulate Boris and Carrie yesterday, tweeting: “Wonderful news!”

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also sent the happy duo her best wishes.

They will become the third couple in recent history to have a baby while living in Downing Street — following in the footsteps of Tony and Cherie Blair and David and Samantha Cameron.

The latest PM’s baby could have been conceived at the Queen’s Balmoral estate last autumn.

Boris and Carrie spent a night at the castle on Friday September 6 but returned to London the next day due to the gathering Brexit crisis.

The PM waves his hands as he leaves the Tory Party headquarters
The PM waves his hands as he leaves the Tory Party headquarters
The couple pose happily with their dog on voting day
The couple pose happily with their dog on voting day
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds visit Neasden Temple
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds visit Neasden Temple
Boris and Carrie after his Tory Party conference speech in 2019

It was later reported that the Queen was “uncomfortable” with them staying overnight given royal protocol usually bans unmarried couples from doing so.

Cherie Blair has previously revealed that her and Tony’s fourth child, son Leo, was conceived at Balmoral in 1999 during the PM’s annual visit to the Queen.

Mrs Blair wrote that out of “sheer embarrassment” she had left her contraception at home.

Boris and Carrie grew close after his second marriage to Marina hit the rocks about two years ago — when he was Foreign Secretary.

She accompanied him at everything from private dinner dates to high-powered political functions.

Their close friendship blossomed into romance as they discussed their shared interests and Westminster gossip.

DIVORCE BEING FINALISED

Pals first caught wind that he fancied Carrie, then Tory director of communications, in February 2018 when they attended the party’s Black and White fundraising ball.

They hardly took their eyes off each other and six days later Carrie tweeted enthusiastically about a speech Mr Johnson had made about Brexit.

That evening they were spotted tucking into a Valentine’s dinner in London’s Covent Garden.

The couple went to extraordinary lengths to meet during and after work. And Mr Johnson sent a car to pick up Carrie from a wedding held near Chevening, his country retreat in Kent.

She has largely stayed out of the limelight since he took over from Theresa May as PM in July.

Carrie was scarcely seen at his side on the General Election campaign trail late last year — though she was pictured waving with him outside No10 following the Tories’ thumping win.

The couple chose to live at the larger four-bedroom flat at No11 Downing Street instead of the two-bedroom official residence at No10.

They share Jack Russell-cross rescue pup Dilyn.

Carrie has not been seen recently, giving rise to Westminster ­whispers that she was harbouring a secret.

Last week she was missing from his arm at the Black and White ball. But she was with him at Chevening last weekend.

She has hired a personal adviser on a six-figure salary, paid for by the Conservative Party.

Sarah Vaughan-Brown, 45, former director of ­communications for ITN, will act as adviser and “gatekeeper” to the new “first lady” of Downing Street.

Boris met first wife, Allegra Mostyn-Owen, while they were students at Oxford.

They married in 1987 but the marriage was annulled in 1993.

That year he married Marina Wheeler.

The last PM to marry in office was Lord Liverpool who wed Mary Chester in 1822.

His first wife Louisa died aged 54 the previous year. Boris is also believed to be the first Prime ­Minister to divorce in office since Augustus FitzRoy, the 3rd Duke of Grafton.

An act of parliament allowed him to leave first wife Anne in 1769.

He quickly married Elizabeth Wrottesley and the couple went on to have 13 children.

Meanwhile, pitches are already being made by MPs for the Prime Minister’s wedding to take place in their constituency.

Former Scottish secretary David Mundell tweeted: “Gretna Green is a great place for a wedding.”

Boris was quizzed by Sun readers last year about a possible proposal.

One asked Boris: “Are you going to buy her a rock any time soon? Every girl likes a diamond”.

The embarrassed PM replied: “That is a very good question.

“I have got to take my hat off to you, you have just asked me the question that no journalist has asked. They are just too embarrassed”.

Revealing the depth of his feelings for the first time, the PM replied with a big smile: “Very happy, yes. Very happy”.