BORIS Johnson has said today he is “absolutely delighted” at the news his fiance Carrie Symonds is pregnant, and that the couple will marry.
It comes after the couple revealed the happy news to the world last night.
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Speaking as the PM took part in a visit to Public Health England’s National Infection Service this afternoon, the PM was quizzed on his personal life.
He told the media he was “absolutely delighted of course” that girlfriend Carrie, 31, was expecting, but swiftly turned back onto discussing the Coronavirus outbreak.
Boris has regularly ducked questions on his private life from the media.
Thrilled Carrie — already the first unmarried partner of a sitting PM — last night posted an Instagram picture of Boris kissing her on the cheek.
The PM will become a dad for the sixth time – and will be the first in nearly 200 years to marry while in office.
She wrote: “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. Feel incredibly blessed.”
The shock announcement came just 11 days after Boris, 55, reached a settlement with his estranged wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has four children, aged 20 to 26.
Their divorce is yet to be finalised — so delaying the date of his and Carrie’s wedding.
But a pal said they will want to wed soon to avoid having an unmarried mum at No10.
Mr Johnson also has a fifth child, who was born in 2009 after an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre.
A No10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and Miss Symonds are very pleased to announce their engagement and that they are expecting a baby in early summer.”
The Sun understands Carrie is six months pregnant with the baby due in late May or early June.
A No.10 source added: “Boris and Carrie are both delighted at this news.
“They have both known for a while but have kept it under wraps until the pregnancy progressed.
“It partly explains why he has been lying low recently – although he works flat out and that won’t change.
“Carrie is thrilled and she will also continue to work on her environmental projects.”
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Former Chancellor Sajid Javid was among the first to congratulate Boris and Carrie yesterday, tweeting: “Wonderful news!”
Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also sent the happy duo her best wishes.
They will become the third couple in recent history to have a baby while living in Downing Street — following in the footsteps of Tony and Cherie Blair and David and Samantha Cameron.
The latest PM’s baby could have been conceived at the Queen’s Balmoral estate last autumn.
Boris and Carrie spent a night at the castle on Friday September 6 but returned to London the next day due to the gathering Brexit crisis.
Boris and Carrie grew close after his second marriage to Marina hit the rocks about two years ago — when he was Foreign Secretary.
She accompanied him at everything from private dinner dates to high-powered political functions.
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Their close friendship blossomed into romance as they discussed their shared interests and Westminster gossip.
Pals first caught wind that he fancied Carrie, then Tory director of communications, in February 2018 when they attended the party’s Black and White fundraising ball.
She has largely stayed out of the limelight since he took over from Theresa May as PM in July.
Boris was quizzed by Sun readers last year about a possible proposal.
One asked Boris: “Are you going to buy her a rock any time soon? Every girl likes a diamond”.
The embarrassed PM replied: “That is a very good question.
“I have got to take my hat off to you, you have just asked me the question that no journalist has asked. They are just too embarrassed”.
Revealing the depth of his feelings for the first time, the PM replied with a big smile: “Very happy, yes. Very happy”.
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