Published on 15/03/2024 at 17:00 by Lola Bee

Carrie Johnson: Everything you need to know about Boris Johnson's wife Carrie

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Carrie Johnson

Carrie Johnson © Bloomberg/Getty Images

Carrie Johnson is the wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

 

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The Johnson family

The Johnson family © Karwai Tang / Contributeur

 The couple have two children: a son, Wilfred and a daughter, Romy.

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Carrie's family

Carrie's family © Samir Hussein/Getty Images

She is the daughter of Matthew Symonds, co-founder of The Independent, and Josephine McAffe – who worked as a lawyer for the publication.

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She took her first step into politics at the age of 21

She took her first step into politics at the age of 21 © Bloomberg/Getty Images

In 2009, Carrie Johnson joined the Conservative Party as a press officer. 

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Carrie Johnson's career

Carrie Johnson's career © Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Before she became Johnson's spouse, Carrie has had a career in politics, conservatism and conservation.

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She was part of Boris Johnson's mayoral campaign

She was part of Boris Johnson's mayoral campaign © Karwai Tang/Getty Images

In 2010, Carrie worked in the London Conservative Party mayoral campaign of Boris Johnson. She climbed the ranks at the party and worked as a Special Advisor to two secretaries of state. 

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Head of Communications

Head of Communications © Bloomberg/Getty Images

By 2018 Carrie became Head of Communications for the Conservative Party. She was only 29. 

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Controversy at the party

Controversy at the party © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Her time as Head of Communication became scrutinized after she was reported to have booked taxis for off-duty occasions on the party's expenses.

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Carrie left the Conservative Party

Carrie left the Conservative Party © Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Her friends denied the claims, dismissing them as untrue and a ‘politically motivated smear’. Nonetheless, later that year, Carrie left her job to work for ocean conservation charity, Oceana.

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Boris Johnson suspected of infidelity

Boris Johnson suspected of infidelity © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In 2018, Johnson was married to Marina Wheeler who kicked him out of their marital home as she believed he was having an affair.

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Boris is rumoured to have moved in with Carrie

Boris is rumoured to have moved in with Carrie © Future Publishing/Getty Images

Subsequently, rumours spread that Boris began living with Carrie at her home in Camberwell.

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Boris and Carrie became a couple

Boris and Carrie became a couple © Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

In the summer of 2019, pictures of the couple in the countryside emerged.

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Boris won the election

Boris won the election © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In the same year, Boris was elected as the new Conservative Party leader.

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Carrie played the role of the supportive partner

Carrie played the role of the supportive partner © SOPA Images/Getty Images

Carrie was pictured alongside his family as he arrived at Downing Street. She wore a red and pink Ghost dress, which promptly sold out.

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Carrie moved to Downing Street

Carrie moved to Downing Street © Bloomberg/Getty Images

A spokeswoman for the Johnson confirmed that Carrie would move into Downing Street. She is the first partner to have lived there without being married to the Prime Minister. 


 

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Boris Johnson officially became a divorced man

Boris Johnson officially became a divorced man © Bloomberg/Getty Images

In 2020, a family court judge authorized Boris Johnson and Marina Wheeler's divorce, and the former couple's financial settlement was accepted.
 

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The couple got Covid

The couple got Covid © Karwai Tang/Getty Images

On March 2020 Boris Johnson tested positive for Covid-19. A week later Carrie announced she was recovering from Covid symptoms.

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Boris and Carrie got engaged

Boris and Carrie got engaged © Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The couple announced in 2020 that they were engaged and were expecting a baby together. 

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Boris and Carrie announced they're expecting a child

Boris and Carrie announced they're expecting a child © picture alliance/Getty Images

Carrie announced on her Instagram:  'I wouldn't normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me... 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.'

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The couple welcomed their first born

The couple welcomed their first born © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In April 2020, Boris and Carrie's first child was born. A spokesperson for the then-PM 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.’

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The first born's name revealed

The first born's name revealed © Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images

Carrie took to Instagram to explain her choice of name: 

‘Wilfred after Boris’s grandfather, Lawrie after my grandfather, Nicholas after Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart – the two doctors that saved Boris’s life last month’

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Their wedding

Their wedding © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The couple announced on 30 May 2020, that Boris and Carrie officially tied the knot at Westminster Cathedral a few days prior.

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Carrie's appearance at G7 summit

Carrie's appearance at G7 summit © picture alliance/Getty Images

Carrie Johnson played a big part in the politics of the G7 summit held at Carbis Bay in June 2021. 

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Welcomed their second child

Welcomed their second child © Jeff Overs/Getty Images

Carrie announced that she and Boris were expecting a baby daughter in July. Sadly, she had a miscarriage a few months before. They then welcomed their baby into the world in December 2021. 

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Boris Johnson's resignation

Boris Johnson's resignation © Richard Baker/Getty Images

In September of 2022, the ex-Prime Minister quit after receiving the results of an investigation by MPs over misleading statements he made to Parliament about the so-called 'Partygate' scandal.
 

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Carrie Johnson has influenced her husband immensely

Carrie Johnson has influenced her husband immensely © Bloomberg/Getty Images

A biography by Lord Ashcroft in early 2022 entitled, First Lady: Intrigue at the Court of Carrie and Boris Johnson made claims as to the extent to which Carrie influenced who her husband appointed to particular roles. 

A spokesperson for Carrie described the claims in the book as ‘regurgitated lies’.

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Carrie's out of the spotlight

Carrie's out of the spotlight © Bloomberg / Contributeur

Since the resignation of Boris Johnson, Carrie has stayed out of the spotlight.

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Carrie and the Queen

Carrie and the Queen © Chris Jackson / Employé

In May 2024, she posted on Instagram that she had attended a reception at Buckingham Palace to ‘to recognise those who help victims of rape and sexual assault.’ She said:

‘The Queen has done so much valuable work in this area, it’s clear she cares about it a great deal too.’

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Carrie's been open about her private life

Carrie's been open about her private life © Richard Baker / Contributeur

On Instagram, she keeps her 92K followers updated about her private life and especially her children. 

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Carrie Johnson turns 36

Carrie Johnson turns 36 © picture alliance / Contributeur

On 17 March 2024, Carrie Johnson turned 36. She said on Instagram: 

‘Thanks for all the lovely Birthday messages over the weekend. 36 feels EXCELLENT ♥️’