Ms Symonds was given the advice on being the UK’s “First Lady” from former Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife Samantha, according to The Daily Mail. The 31-year-old moved into the four-bedroom flat above No 11 Downing Street with Boris Johnson yesterday after Theresa May and her husband, Philip, moved out. Ms Symonds made contact with Mrs Cameron ahead of the move who was in office from 2010 to 2016.
One of Ms Symonds friends told The Daily Mail: “Samantha Cameron has been giving Carrie some advice on living in No 10. They’re friends; she wants to help out.”
Despite speculation that Mr Johnson may have needed new furniture to be paid for by the state, a spokeswoman said “there’s no cost to the taxpayer”.
Ms Symonds, a former Tory spin doctor, will not have any publicly-funded staff working for her, Number 10 indicated.
The spokeswoman added: “In relation to her living at Number 10 there won’t be any additional cost to the taxpayer.”
READ MORE: Carrie Symonds to move into Downing Street with Boris Johnson TODAY
They will be the first unmarried couple to officially live in Number 10.
However, despite Ms Symonds moving into Downing Street, the spokeswoman for Mr Johnson has confirmed she will not have her own private office.
She said: “In relation to her living at Number 10 there won’t be any additional cost to the taxpayer.”
Samantha Cameron, Cherie Blair and Sarah Brow all had full-time assistants while their spouses were Prime Minister to help manage their work load.
It is believed the status of Ms Symonds’ relationship is part of the reason for her lack of personal staff.
The couple had been living together at Ms Symonds’ flat in Camberwell, south London, until a well-publicised row recorded by neighbours last month.
Mr Johnson is currently finalising the divorce with his second wife, Marina Wheeler, who he married in 1993.
The couple announced they had separated last summer when it emerged the Conservative MP had started seeing Ms Symonds, who was working as the party’s head of communications at the time.
