Carrie Johnson

British press officer, wife of Boris Johnson

Caroline Louise Bevan Johnson (née Symonds; born 17 March 1988) is a British political activist and conservationist. She is the wife of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. She was the first unmarried partner of a Prime Minister to live in 10 Downing Street when she was engaged to Johnson until 2021.[1][2]

Carrie Johnson
Johnson in 2022
Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office
29 May 2021 – 6 September 2022
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byMarina Wheeler
Succeeded byHugh O'Leary
Personal details
Born
Caroline Louise Bevan Symonds

(1988-03-17) 17 March 1988 (age 36)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)
(m. 2021)
Children2
Parents
Relatives
Alma materUniversity of Warwick

Early life

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Caroline Louise Bevan Symonds was born on 17 March 1988 to Matthew Symonds, co-founder of The Independent.[3]

Before her marriage to the Prime Minister, she was a political and climate activist. She was a Conservative Party media official. She is a senior advisor to the ocean conservation charity Oceana.[4]

Relationship with Boris Johnson

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She began an affair with British politician Boris Johnson, then Foreign Secretary, in 2018 while he was still married to his second wife, Marina Wheeler.[5] In July 2019, Johnson became prime minister and both he and Symonds officially moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street.[6][7] On 16 August 2019, she made her first public appearance since entering 10 Downing Street.[8][9]

On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Boris Johnson announced that they had become engaged in late 2019.[10] Their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, was born on 29 April 2020 in London.[11] Symonds married Boris Johnson on 29 May 2021 in a secret ceremony.[12][13][14] Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, was born on 9 December 2021 in London.[15][16]

References

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  1. Mason, Rowena (29 July 2019). "Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds move into Downing Street". The Guardian.
  2. Malnick, Edward (29 May 2021). "Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds married in secret wedding ceremony at Westminster Cathedral". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. Bird, Steve; Sheridan, Danielle; Horton, Helena (3 May 2020). "Baby Johnson named in tribute to doctors". The Sunday Telegraph.
  4. "PM's partner Carrie Symonds makes first speech since No 10 move". BBC News. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. Bostock, Bill (23 July 2019). "Everything you need to know about Boris Johnson's fiancée Carrie Symonds, who just gave birth to a baby boy". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. "Boris Johnson becomes UK's new prime minister". BBC News. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  7. Perkins, Anne (1 August 2019). "Why Carrie Symonds is the embodiment of the Boris Johnson brand". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. Horton, Helena; Hope, Christopher (14 August 2019). "Carrie Symonds to carry out first solo event since Boris Johnson became PM at 'birdwatchers' Glastonbury'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. "Carrie Symonds warns politicians of 'gigantic' climate crisis responsibility". The Guardian. 16 August 2019. ISSN 0261-3077.
  10. "Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds engaged and expecting baby". BBC News. London. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  11. Braddick, Imogen (2 May 2020). "Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds name baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson after doctors who saved PM's life". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  12. Beech, Samantha (30 May 2021). "Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds in secret wedding". CNN. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. Shearing, Hazel; Snowdon, Kathryn (30 May 2021). "Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  14. Malnick, Edward; Stanley, Tim; Southworth, Phoebe (30 May 2021). "Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds married in secret wedding ceremony at Westminster Cathedral". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  15. "Boris and Carrie Johnson announce birth of a girl". BBC News. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  16. Keane, Daniel (16 December 2021). "Romy Iris Charlotte: Boris Johnson and Carrie name their baby daughter". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 December 2021.