Boris Johnson remains in hospital with coronavirus as his pregnant fiancee spends Easter weekend in isolation
The world is watching as UK leader Boris Johnson remains in hospital with coronavirus. But spare a thought for his pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, who is also on the mend from the virus.
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A personal message from the Queen is the highlight of a lifetime for most people.
Usually it marks a 100th birthday, or a special commendation or award.
Carrie Symonds, the pregnant fiancee of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, received a kind, thoughtful message from the Queen this week.
But it was one she would rather forget because Her Majesty was sending her prayers that her soon-to-be husband would quickly recover and get out of intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Fortunately the news improved late this week as Mr Johnson, 55, was shifted out of intensive care today, although he was likely to stay in hospital for at least a week.
The Queen revealed that the message was directly sent to Ms Symonds, in a break from standard royal protocol.
“That was really a big shift for the Queen, normally, royal protocol dictates that she doesn’t acknowledge couples until they are married,” a senior diplomatic source said.
“This really showed the softer side of the Queen, she has learnt from the Diana days and realised she needed to show she was more human.”
Ms Symonds, 32, has been in her own personal coronavirus prison.
She too had the virus but was on the mend, which she hoped Mr Johnson would be when he suddenly deteriorated and was rushed to hospital, just as the Queen was delivering her message of solidarity and hope to the UK and the Commonwealth.
Now she’s stuck inside her home in Camberwell, south London, and cannot even visit her mum in East Sheen, south west London.
Tomorrow, they may have had an Easter Sunday roast, or dropped in for an orange juice among the rose bushes in the garden at The Plough Hotel nearby.
Instead, the best she can hope for is UberEats.
Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of cricketer Imran Khan, sent Ms Symonds, a personal friend, her best wishes.
“This must be a terrifying time for @carriesymonds – sick with coronavirus herself, due to give birth to her first baby very soon and the father of her child in intensive care. Really hope @BorisJohnson recovers quickly,” she said.
There was also an outpouring of sympathy across the political divide in the UK.
News Corp Australia understands that Ms Symonds has been keeping in contact with friends via WhatsApp and has been in contact with Mr Johnson.
But it was unlikely to have been a long chat because COVID-19 patients are so short of breath they can barely talk.
It’s so different from when she announced her pregnancy and engagement in February.
There was so much hope BC – before coronavirus.
Ms Symonds had navigated the tricky role of becoming half of the first unmarried couple in Number 10 Downing Street when Mr Johnson took the reins in July last year.
Mr Johnson’s love life has been well documented – the answer on his Wikipedia page to the question of how many children he has is “5 or 6.”
He had only just divorced Marina Wheeler, his barrister wife of 27 years, a few days before Ms Symonds announced she was pregnant and engaged.
The former Conservative Party communications director dropped the bombshell on a Saturday night in London, neatly brushing a government bullying scandal surrounding Home Office Minister Priti Patel off the front pages.
Her $A60,000 engagement ring was similar to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, except that it was a green emerald instead of a blue sapphire.
Ms Symonds’ baby was “longed for” and she would make the best of the hand she had been dealt, the diplomatic source said.
Ms Symonds showed that when she announced that she had recovered from coronavirus last week.
“I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus. I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Being pregnant with COVID-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up-to-date guidance which I found to be v reassuring.”
She has a sense of humour, too.
Her dog Dilyn, a rescue pet who has been her constant companion, sent a message to Mr Johnson when he was put into hospital.
“Praying for Boris to pull through and come home. For now though I know he is in the best place and receiving the best care. #stayhomesavelives #nhs #conservatives #borisjohnsonpm #coronavirus #dilynthedog,” the loveable jack russell cross said, channelling Mr Ed.
There will be some questions asked when the dust settles, and Ms Symonds may want to press for the answers too.
Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock caught COVID-19, while senior minister Michael Gove, England’s Chief Medical Officer and superstar spinner Dominic Cummings self-isolated because they feared they too were infected.
Dozens, if not hundreds of MPs, were self-isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, a political source said.
“The government wasn’t taking this seriously at the start of March. When (Health Minister) Nadine Dorries tested positive,” the source said.
“They should have immediately shut down parliament, done a deep clean and tested all MPs and their staff.
“We were seeing images of kids partying on Florida beaches but then a week later the government held parliament – a small space – for the budget and there was no social distancing then.”
Ms Dorries said this week: “Boris has risked his health & worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus Lets do our bit for him and @carriesymonds now. Send them our love #getwellsoonboris.”
Mr Johnson is forever the optimistic. He even acknowledges that his critics say he’s too “boosterish” or positive.
Ms Symonds will hopefully have taken on some of his outlook as she carries on, with a little help from the Queen and her country, who have this week given her the equivalent of singing Liverpool’s anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Originally published as Boris Johnson remains in hospital with coronavirus as his pregnant fiancee spends Easter weekend in isolation
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