Although their rollercoaster romance has been ongoing for the past 24 years, Boris and wife Carrie Johnson haven’t stopped. With their fourth child together and Boris’s ninth overall, he’s no stranger to parenthood
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has welcomed his ninth child, daughter Poppy Eliza Josephine.
Boris and wife Carrie Johnson announced the birth of their fourth child on Instagram. Carrie called her their “final gang member” and gushed, “I can’t believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten.” Boris Johnson’s marriage to his third wife, Carrie Johnson (née Symonds), has sparked plenty of curiosity over the years not least because of their sizeable age gap.
There are 24 years between the former PM, now 60, and media consultant Carrie, who shares glimpses of their personal life through her stylish Instagram feed. However, you’re unlikely to find much gossip in Johnson’s memoir Unleashed, which focuses more on his turbulent and often controversial time leading Number 10.
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At first glance, at least, the two appear to be very similar. Carrie, 37, is a fashionable modern mother who enjoys sharing her hearty meals with her close circle of friends, vintage meals, and dreamy family vacations. Boris, by contrast, is known for his more traditional tastes — his love of classics, Shakespeare, and iconic leaders such as Winston Churchill has earned him a reputation as a British eccentric.
Indeed, Carrie jokingly asked, “Can you guess which name my husband chose?,” when discussing their differences in a post welcoming their previous child, Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson.
But how did this unlikely couple meet, and what is their relationship really like behind closed doors? The Mirror examines Boris and Carrie’s romance here…
First meeting
Although little is known about how their romance developed, it is thought that Boris and Carrie first slept with one another in 2009, ten years before they officially started dating. While Johnson was still married to his second wife, the lawyer Marina Wheeler, at the time, Carrie was a 21-year-old who had just graduated from law school and was employed as a press officer for the Tory party.
One year after her appointment, Carrie campaigned for Boris Johnson in the 2010 London Conservative Party mayoral selection. It was at this time that Carrie’s career began to soar, with the media consultant enjoying a range of top appointments, including as special advisor to former Secretary of State, Sajid Javid.
The year of the rumor
In 2018, by which point Carrie had risen to become the party’s Head of Communications, rumours had started to swirl around the pair, particularly after the then-foreign Secretary was seen shooting the future Mrs Johnson a doting look at they left a Tory fundraiser in February.
Johnson and Carrie had a 30-year-old ABBA-themed party in March, which was viewed as a sign of a growing friendship. The former couple released a joint statement shortly after The Sun published fresh allegations of the politician’s unfaithfulness in September of that same year as they announced they were divorcing.
That same month, as reported by the Mail Online, Johnson was allegedly spotted enjoying a meal at Covent Garden’s Rules restaurant, accompanied by a ‘ young attractive ‘ blonde woman. An observer commented, “It seemed to be a very intimate meal with little to do with important state issues.”
Although it’s not known whether the young woman involved was Carrie, the rising political star allegedly chatted with friends about ‘mischievous text messages from Boris’ while attending a wedding. One guest claimed: “Carrie was having a good time and was quite thrilled with all the texts she was getting. Then suddenly a car arrived and everyone in Boris’s car reported Carrie to be off. Because of its attractive motor, there was speculation that it might have even been a ministerial vehicle that picked her up.
Fiery row
Johnson and Carrie first revealed their relationship in June of that year when they were pictured holding hands affectionately during a rural road trip. By this point, Carrie had left her job for the Tories to work for the ocean conservation charity, Oceana.
At the couple’s Camberwell home, neighbors reported to the Mirror the same month that they made their public statements.
Fatima, a woman, said to us, “All I heard was the lady screaming and shouting.” I couldn’t hear clearly – she was really angry though. I could hear people smashing and throwing objects around.
“I was already awake because I was watching something on television.” I had to mute it because I have never heard shouting and smashing things like that. There is nothing going on in this quiet neighborhood, so I was worried.
Fatima, a nursery worker in a nearby apartment, confirmed that she was concerned for the woman’s safety and said, “I didn’t call the police because the police arrived about a few minutes later. I saw a police van and a police car turn up. I anticipated how they would approach the situation.
“It lasted for more than ten minutes,” it continued. His voice was quite quiet, but her voice was more loud. Because she was simply extremely enraged, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. A police van followed the police car as it came in and then van. They were there less than ten minutes”.
Carrie became the first unmarried partner of a PM to reside at Number 10 the day Johnson became prime minister. Their time in office sparked a lot of controversy, from complaints about the cost of a roll of gold-covered wallpaper to rumors that Carrie was using her power in the background.
Discussing Carrie’s apparently formidable influence at the time, a source told Tatler: “Who she trusts and who has her ear is hugely important. You’d be wise to get started with her if you’re a cabinet minister trying to survive. Johnson, who reportedly lost weight, spent more time outdoors, and even trimmed his famous hair, appears to have had this influence.
First baby and secret wedding
A spokesperson revealed that the couple was expecting their first child together in a double announcement made in February 2020. The couple are expecting a child in the early summer, according to the spokesperson.
Making her own personal statement via Instagram that same month, Carrie wrote:” Many of you already know but for my friends that still don’t, we got engaged at the end of last year… and we’ve got a baby hatching early summer. Feel incredibly blessed.
Carrie announced that she had given birth to Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson on Instagram in April of that year, saying that she had “heart full.” Explaining the special meaning behind Wilfred’s name, she revealed that their choice had been partly inspired by the medics who’d cared for her husband during his harrowing Covid ordeal.
She referred to “Wilfred after Boris’ grandfather, Lawrie after my grandfather, Nicholas after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart, the two doctors who saved Boris’ life last month.”
On May 29, 2021, Carrie and Johnson tied the knot in a secret wedding at Westminster Cathedral, sticking to a low-key affair with just 30 guests amid the restrictions of the Coronavirus pandemic. Sharing a snap of herself in her thrifty £45 rented wedding gown, Carrie declared she was ‘very, very happy’.
Second wedding and familial life
In July 2021, Johnson and Carrie announced they were expecting their second baby together, welcoming daughter Romy Iris Charlotte in December 2021. On July 5, 2023, Little Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson resurrected.
Johnson and Carrie tied the knot in the summer of 2022 in a boho chic ceremony held at the Grade I-listed Cotswolds, home to Lord Bamford, the head of the Conservatives. Guests enjoyed an al fresco feast, while Carrie wore a garland of white flowers.
By this point, Johnson was gearing up to step down as prime minister due to “Partygate,” according to sources who at the time said the former prime minister was clinging on to the seat to hold the ceremony at Chequers. It begs to be told that Johnson is staying because of the criticism he has received regarding integrity and probity, according to a source who spoke to The Mirror.
‘ It’s a national asset, not his personal home. Instead of moving to a different venue, the Johnsons should do the right thing. And Boris ought to immediately leave No 10 and do the right thing.
Now out of the political fishbowl, Carrie’s Instagram feed continues to allow followers to keep up with the Johnsons, including their jaunts to Hollywood, Sardinia, and the South of France. And despite the abundance of down-to-earth family photos on display, including those about baby ducklings and zoo trips, there are also more diverse images that show a less than relatable life of glamour and wealth.
The pair met at the lavish £250m wedding of the year last year to honor Radhika Merchant, the heiress of the pharmaceutical industry, and Anant Ambani, the son of India’s wealthiest man.
Source: Mirror
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