Baby boy for Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds

Boris Johnson and his partner, Carrie Symonds, have announced the birth of a “healthy baby boy” at a London hospital.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, with partner Carrie Symonds in London on April 12. Picture: AFP

Boris Johnson and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, have welcomed the birth of a boy.

The news comes two days after the British Prime Minister returned to work following three weeks of suffering and recovering fro COVID-19.

Ms Symonds, who has also had symptoms of the coronavirus, was well, a Downing Street 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.’’

The couple announced in February that they were engaged and expecting a child together. At the time they said the baby was due in early northern summer.

The baby, whose name has not been released, is the first child for Ms Symonds, 32, and the sixth, or possibly the seventh, for Mr Johnson, 55.

Mr Johnson’s other children are Lara Lettice, Milo Arthur, Cassia Peaches, and Theodore Apollo, all in their 20s and Stephanie McInytre, aged about 11.

A court case hinted that Mr Johnson may have another child out of wedlock, but this has never been confirmed.

Earlier Downing Street had indicated that Mr Johnson may miss Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions session, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab taking his role.

But Mr Johnson was still expected to have a private meeting with the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer about the country’s response to coronavirus.

Key decisions are expected soon about the national emergency and the easing of lockdown measures.

One of the first to publicly congratulate Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds was Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

BREAKING: Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital this morning. pic.twitter.com/QyqOFdgzso

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 29, 2020

“So thrilled for Boris and Carrie. Wonderful to have a moment of unalloyed joy!!’’, Mr Hancock tweeted.

House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle congratulated the couple. “Such happy news amid so much uncertainty — 2020 is certainly a year they will never forget,” he said.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident. Congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son.’

Opposition parties were also congratulatory.

Sir Keir said: “Wonderful news. Many congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds.”

It is unclear if Mr Johnson will take two-week paternity leave so soon after being away for three weeks.

Bookies have shortened the odds on the baby being named Wilfred at 4/1 but the most popular option is Winston at 20/1, with a third of all bets backing the Prime Minister to honour his political idol Sir Winston Churchill.

The baby is the third born to a sitting British prime minister this century. The wives of leaders Tony Blair and David Cameron also had babies while their husbands were in office.

Additional reporting: Agencies