Carrie Symonds gives birth to a healthy baby boy: Boris Johnson is by his fiancée's side for arrival of their newborn son at London hospital as couple thank 'fantastic NHS maternity team'
- Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds are 'thrilled' to announce birth of their son at NHS hospital in London
- News came as a shock because baby was not expected until later in the summer - but due date never known
- It is unclear if PM will take two weeks paternity leave after just returning to work after battling coronavirus
- Prime Minister is said to have been by his fiancée's side throughout the birth in the early hours of morning
- Couple had been largely apart until the weekend because both were self-isolating separately for weeks
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's fiancée Carrie Symonds today gave birth to a 'healthy' baby boy at an NHS hospital in London today - weeks earlier than anticipated.
Mr Johnson is said to have been by his 32-year-old fiancee's side throughout the labour before their son entered the world in the early hours of this morning.
The safe arrival of their child, Carrie's first and Boris' sixth, has come as a shock because Miss Symonds was expected to give birth later in the summer, although a due date was never confirmed by the couple.
They announced the pregnancy on February 29, days after the PM's divorce from Marina Wheeler was confirmed, and got engaged while holidaying on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique over the new year.
Announcing the birth of their son, who has not been named yet, his spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital earlier this morning. Both mother and baby are doing very well. The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team.'
No 10 have not revealed the hospital they went to - although St Thomas', where Mr Johnson was in intensive care this month, is the closest to Downing Street. It was previously reported that Carrie had wanted a home birth but these have largely suspended by the NHS because of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said in early March that he is likely to take his two-week paternity leave when their child is born - but it is not known if he will take a fortnight off now at a time of national emergency. There are also concerns that key decisions over the coronavirus lockdown and how to ease Britain out of it will be delayed because of the Prime Minister's new baby.
The birth came after an extraordinary month for the couple, who were self-isolating separately, first because of Carrie's pregnancy and then when Boris fell ill. Mr Johnson then spent a week in hospital, including three days in intensive care, and Miss Symonds was also briefly bedridden with symptoms of Covid-19, but had made a full recovery. They were only reunited last week at Chequers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds, pictured together on March 9, have today had their first child - a son born in a London NHS hospital
Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds at the England v Wales rugby match at Twickenham on March 7, just before Mr Johnson contracted coronavirus
It is also just weeks after the PM was discharged from intensive care where he had been battling coronavirus. Miss Symonds also suffered symptoms of the disease.
It is unclear whether Mr Johnson will take paternity leave, although he is not expected to take Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament this afternoon.
Mr Johnson is said to have been by her side throughout the birth. She sent him scans of the baby while he was ill with coronavirus earlier this month to raise his spirits.
The spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital earlier this morning.
'Both mother and baby are doing very well. The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team.'
Miss Symonds has been back living with Mr Johnson at Number 11 Downing Street as the Prime Minister leads the Government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
She had previously been self-isolating in Camberwell, South London, with the couple's dog Dilyn, after suffering from symptoms of coronavirus.
The 32-year-old former government adviser then joined Mr Johnson at the PM's country home of Chequers in Buckinghamshire while he recovered from the virus.
Boris and Carrie announced they were a couple last year after he was thrown out by his second wife Marina and amid claims they had an affair. Then in late February Carrie used Instagram (right) to announce they had a 'baby hatching in early summer'
The couple have been messages of best wishes including from politicians and celebrities today
Mr Johnson and his Miss Symonds arrive at 10 Downing Street on December 13 last year, just before the
Mr Johnson returned to work on Monday after being photographed back at Downing Street on Sunday evening.
If it was a full-term pregnancy, conception would have taken place last July, around the time Mr Johnson took over from Theresa May as prime minister.
After Mr Johnson was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in London following a period in intensive care, they both thanked NHS staff for their 'magnificent' work.
Mr Johnson, 55, and Ms Symonds announced in late February that they were expecting a baby in 'early summer', and that they had become engaged at the end of last year.
The news was welcomed by politicians today, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeting: 'So thrilled for Boris and Carrie. Wonderful to have a moment of unalloyed joy!'
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'Great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident. Congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son.'
Former chancellor Sajid Javid tweeted: 'Congratulations Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson. Such wonderful uplifting news!'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Wonderful news. Many congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds.'
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith tweeted: 'Congratulations Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds, such wonderful news! Baby boy!'
And Sir Ed Davey, the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweeted: 'Many congratulations to the PM and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son!'
The Prime Minister's father, Stanley Johnson, said he was 'absolutely delighted' and 'thrilled' by the birth of his grandson.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: 'Some good news - sending congratulations to Carrie and the PM. And wishing health and happiness to the wee one.'
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted: 'Congratulations and prayers for @BorisJohnson and @CarrieSymonds as they welcome their son into the world. Wishing them every blessing and happiness.'
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has also congratulated the PM and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their baby.
Sir Lindsay said: 'On behalf of everyone in the House of Commons, may I say congratulations to the Prime Minister and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son.
'Such happy news amid so much uncertainty - 2020 is certainly a year they will never forget.'
Labour's Jess Phillips tweeted: 'Congratulations to the Prime Minister and @carriesymonds. It gets better after the first 8 weeks, or your standards drop so dramatically in that time that you think it's got easier. I wish them all well.'
Opening the Commons Home Affairs Committee, chairman Yvette Cooper said she wanted to 'convey our congratulations to Carrie Symonds and to the Prime Minister on the birth of their baby which is very good news for them'.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'I echo your words obviously in congratulations to our Prime Minister and the birth of their baby, and Carrie, today.'
Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, tweeted: 'Wonderful news of the birth of a baby boy! Many congratulations to the PM @BorisJohnson and @carriesymonds. More sleepless nights ahead!'
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe tweeted: 'My dear friend, @BorisJohnson, warmest congratulations on the birth of a sweet baby boy!'
Carrie and Boris were first pictured together in February 2018 after a Tory ball at the Natural History Museum
In March 2019 Carrie and Boris were spotted in Italy on a short holiday as their relationship became more serious
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have broken cover and looked happy and were holding hands in the Sussex countryside in June last year, amid rumours they almost split up after a series of rows - including one where the police were called
Boris and Marina married in 1993 before splitting in 2018. Divorce proceedings are now understood to have concluded
So how many children is that, Boris? Newborn son is (officially) PM's sixth child after four with ex-wife Marina Wheeler and daughter from 2009 affair... but courts mention possibility of one more
The baby Carrie Symonds gave birth to today is her first child, but for fiancé Boris Johnson the experience of parenthood is one that will feel very familiar.
The Prime Minister now has at least six children, yet has not officially confirmed the exact number after leading a tangled love life that has seen him married twice.
Both marriages ended after he had affairs. It may seem extraordinary that the number of children a Prime Minister has is not public record, yet that is the situation.
What is known is that Mr Johnson and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20.
He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. Stephanie is allegedly one of two children he fathered as a result of an affair.
Boris Johnson tonight announced that he and Carrie Symonds are expecting their first baby but mystery still surrounds how many children the PM already has. Pictured: Mr Johnson with his second wife Marina Wheeler and their eldest daughter Lara
The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler separated in 2018 and have four children together. Pictured: Mr Johnson and Ms Wheeler in 2018
What is known is that the Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together including Milo Arthur, 24, (left) and Theodore Apollo, 20, (right)
The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009 - but also mentioned the possibility of a second baby.
The three appeal court judges said: 'It was not material to the judge's conclusion whether contraceptive precautions were taken.
'What was material was that the father's infidelities resulted in the conception of children on two occasions.
'The judge was entitled to hold that this was of itself reckless behaviour, regardless of whether any contraceptive precautions were taken.'
He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre (pictured with then partner William Cash)
Mr Johnson met his first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen while they were students at Oxford and they wed in 1987 but they were divorced in 1993.
He married Ms Wheeler later that year and just five weeks after their wedding day, Lara - who is just five years younger than Ms Symonds - was born.
Lara attended Bedales school - which costs £33,000-a-year - in Hampshire and went on to read Latin at St Andrews University.
She reportedly branded her father a 'selfish b******' after his split with her mother.
Milo went to £27,000-a-year Westminster School and can speak Arabic, Russian and French, The Mirror reports.
Cassia went to Highgate School - which costs £18,000 per year - and Theodore went to Cambridge University.
In 2004 it emerged that Johnson was reportedly having an affair with journalist Petronella Wyatt who had fallen pregnant and had an abortion.
He was sacked from the Tory frontbench over the affair.
He married Ms Wheeler later that year and just five weeks after their wedding day, Lara (left) - who is just five years younger than Ms Symonds - was born. Lara's younger sister Cassia (right) went to Highgate School - which costs £18,000 per year
In 2006 the News of the World reported Mr Johnson had had an affair with journalist Anna Fazackerley.
In 2018, another scandal hit Mr Johnson when news about his affair with former Conservative Party communications chief Ms Symonds came to light.
Mr Johnson and his then wife Ms Wheeler separated in 2018 and, within months, Mr Johnson had moved in with Miss Symonds.
While the exact number of Boris's children remains unknown it will continue to haunt him as a reminder to the press and the public of just how uncomfortable this Prime Minister can be facing direct questions.
'Baby number ?' Twitter celebrates the birth of Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds' baby with comedy memes - joking the PM's 'only been back for two days and can now take paternity leave'
If the news that Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have welcomed a baby boy into the world this morning took a nation in lockdown by surprise, it wasn't long before social media clicked into gear and conjured up a thousand memes on the happy news.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's fiancée Carrie Symonds, 32, today gave birth to a 'healthy' baby boy at an NHS hospital in London - weeks earlier than anticipated.
The news, announced just before 10am this morning, quickly sent the hashtag #borisbaby soaring to the top of Twitter's trending column.
While many posted memes showing the PM, 55, and his girlfriend whooping with delight, and saying the news gave the nation a much-needed moment of joy, others couldn't resist referencing Mr Johnson's expanding brood - with a mischievous Wikipedia editor changing the reference to how many children the PM has to an uncertain '6 or 7'.
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Elsewhere, there were plenty of snaps of blonde-haired babies doing the rounds, as social media comedians suggested that Boris junior may have been born with a mop of unruly hair like his father's.
Others showed dancing toddlers jigging with joy, suggesting that's how Mr Johnson might feel at the prospect of two weeks of paternity leave, after just two days back at Number 10 following his battle with Covid-19.
There was the gif of a cat furiously typing away, with its poster suggesting that it might be how 'Eton's administrative staff' might look while adding the PM's offspring to the private school's waiting list.
Another kept in mind the couple's 'fur baby', saying Dilyn would have a 'beautiful friendship' with the new baby.
Mr Johnson is said to have been by his 32-year-old fiancee's side throughout the labour before their son entered the world in the early hours of this morning.
The safe arrival of their child, Carrie's first and Boris' sixth, has come as a shock because Miss Symonds was expected to give birth later in the summer, although a due date was never confirmed by the couple.
They announced the pregnancy on February 29, days after the PM's divorce from Marina Wheeler was confirmed, and got engaged while holidaying on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique over the new year.
Announcing the birth of their son, who has not been named yet, his spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital earlier this morning.
Both mother and baby are doing very well. The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team.
No 10 have not revealed the hospital they went to - although St Thomas', where Mr Johnson was in intensive care this month, is the closest to Downing Street. It was previously reported that Carrie had wanted a home birth but these have largely suspended by the NHS because of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said in early March that he is likely to take his two-week paternity leave when their child is born - but it is not known if he will take a fortnight off now at a time of national emergency.
There are also concerns that key decisions over the coronavirus lockdown and how to ease Britain out of it will be delayed because of the Prime Minister's new baby.
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2020-04-29 10:47:19Z
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