LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds introduced on Saturday (Feb 29) that they’re anticipating a child and have gotten engaged.
“The Prime Minister and Miss Symonds are very happy to announce their engagement and that they’re anticipating a child within the early summer time,” a spokesperson for the couple advised British media.
A Downing Avenue spokeswoman confirmed the information to AFP with out offering additional remark.
Symonds additionally shared the announcement – alongside an intimate picture of her and Johnson – on her Instagram account, which is about to personal, in response to Britain’s Each day Mail.
“A lot of you already know however for my buddies that also do not, we acquired engaged on the finish of final 12 months… and we have a child hatching early summer time,” it stated she posted.
Twice-married Johnson, 55 – who break up from his spouse of 26 years in 2018 – has been publicly courting 31-year-old Symonds since early final 12 months.
The British chief, who took workplace final summer time after which swept to an emphatic victory within the nation’s December common election, would be the first UK prime minister to wed whereas in workplace for 250 years.
He and Symonds have already made historical past as the primary single couple to occupy the prime minister’s official residence.
Sajid Javid, who stop as finance minister earlier this month following a falling out with Johnson over staffing, was among the many first to congratulate the couple on Twitter, calling it “fantastic information”.
LOW PROFILE
Symonds, a former Conservative occasion spin physician till now dubbed Britain’s “first girlfriend”, has saved a low profile since shifting into Downing Avenue with Johnson in late July.
She was barely seen alongside Johnson in the course of the common election marketing campaign, selecting to canvas for ruling Conservative Celebration candidates individually.
An avid environmental campaigner, she beforehand labored on his re-election marketing campaign as London mayor in 2012 earlier than turning into the Tories’ director of communications.
She has since labored for an ocean conservation charity.
Symonds briefly lived with Johnson in a south London flat final 12 months earlier than he took energy.
Through the Conservatives’ management election in June, Symonds was thrown into the highlight when neighbours referred to as the police after they overheard her screaming at him throughout a late-night row.
Symonds yelled “get off me” and “get out” amid the sound of issues being smashed, in response to a recording made by one neighbour and given to The Guardian.
Police attended the scene however took no additional motion, and Johnson went on to win the competition to switch ex-premier Theresa Could convincingly.
‘OUT OF WEDLOCK’
The final sitting prime minister and partner to have a child was David and Samantha Cameron, who welcomed Florence Rose Endellion into their household in 2010.
Johnson already has 4 youngsters by his second marriage, to Marina Wheeler – his eldest daughter is simply 5 years youthful than Symonds.
He additionally has a daughter ensuing from a 2009 fling.
Throughout a court docket battle referring to that beginning, it was alleged he had had one other baby out of wedlock, but it surely stays unclear and Johnson has refused to remark.
Earlier this month it was introduced that he and Wheeler, a lawyer, had reached a monetary settlement over their imminent divorce.