PREGNANT Carrie Symonds is set to officially become “first lady” instead of “first girlfriend” — after her engagement to Boris and their summer baby was announced yesterday.
She is the first unmarried partner to live with a Prime Minister at Downing Street and her profile has been on a steady rise since their relationship came to light in September 2018.
The first time the public heard of Carrie’s link with Boris was in September 2018
Last week it was revealed she had been given her own adviser — cementing her position.
Carrie grew up in East Sheen, South West London, and went to prestigious private school Godolphin and Latymer School in nearby Hammersmith.
She worked for eight years as a communications and PR guru for Conservative Campaign HQ alongside leading Tories including Michael Gove and Amber Rudd.
The lucrative role led to her being named as the UK’s second most powerful public relations professional by PR Week magazine. She quit in around August 2018, before starting at Bloomberg as PR for their Vibrant Oceans programme.
Rumours about the couple being together first circulated in September 2018 as news broke of Boris’s separation from his second wife Marina Wheeler — mum to the PM’s children Lara, 26, Milo Arthur, 23, Cassia Peaches, 22 and Theodore Apollo, 20.
In July 2019 Carrie moved in with Boris, taking the space above No11 Downing Street instead of the traditional residence at No10.
Boris and Marina — married for 25 years — finalised a divorce deal earlier this month and at the end of the hearing she was given permission to apply for a decree absolute that will bring the marriage to an official end.
Boris is believed to be the first PM to be divorced while in office in modern times.
Carrie, 31, on her first official engagement in Downing Street
Carrie Symonds at the State Opening of Parliament on October 14, 2019
The PM’s partner cuddles up to the couple’s pet Dilyn on the day of the general election
Carrie played a key role in Boris Johnson’s Tory leadership campaign
The blonde beauty has been on the PM’s arm at official party events
Carrie lives in the flat above No11 with the Prime Minister
