Boris Johnson and girlfriend Carrie Symonds are expecting their first child
Just 11 days after his divorce, the girlfriend of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that the couple are expecting a baby and are engaged.
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Boris Johnson’s fiancee knows how to keep a secret.
Carrie Symonds revealed early on Sunday (Australian time) that she has been engaged to the British Prime Minister for months — and they are expecting a baby.
The bombshell announcement means Mr Johnson, who already has to get an in principle free trade deal agreed with the European Union by June, will have to remember how to change nappies at 55.
Miss Symonds, 31, told her friends first, before an official announcement was released publicly.
“I wouldn’t normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me…,” Miss Symonds posted on her private Instagram page.
“Many of you already know but for my friends that still don’t know, we got engaged at the end of last year... and we’ve got a baby hatching early summer.”
The baby, to be born in Australia’s winter, will be the couple’s first child.
The pair became the first unmarried couple ever to move into the famous No. 10 Downing Street residence last year.
Miss Symonds was a constant on the campaign trail with Mr Johnson as he pulled off the biggest Conservative election win since Margaret Thatcher in December.
A spokesperson for the couple said: “The Prime Minister and Miss Symonds are very pleased to announce their engagement and that they are expecting a baby in the early summer.”
Mr Johnson has four children with his former wife Marina Wheeler.
The human rights barrister was granted leave for a divorce last week after reaching a financial settlement.
The couple was married for 27 years but split after news broke of Mr Johnson’s relationship with Ms Symonds in 2018.
Mr Johnson also has at least one other child to art adviser Helen Macintyre but did not respond when asked about his family during the election campaign.
Miss Symonds was a UK Conservative Party communications director.
There has been speculation for some months about a pregnancy after Miss Symonds began posting mainly head and shoulders photographs online.
Conservative party insiders were taking mock bets on the pregnancy, with some suggesting it was a certainty.
Mr Johnson has four children with his former wife Marina Wheeler.
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Mr Johnson batted away questions about his love life during the election campaign, despite a row about a red wine stain on a white couch gaining headlines when an audio tape was leaked to The Guardian.
A reader of The Sun newspaper was bold enough, however, to ask the question on many people’s lips.
One asked him: “Are you going to buy her a rock any time soon? Every girl likes a diamond”.
A red-faced Mr Johnson said: “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.”
Stephen.drill@news.co.uk