LONDON — Solely every week in the past, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, despatched pals save-the-date playing cards for a marriage in July 2022, in accordance with a number of British newspapers. However on Saturday, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Symonds have been married in a stealth ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in London, in accordance with two tabloids, The Mail on Sunday and The Solar.
It was a characteristically dramatic twist for a relationship that had unfolded in a frenetic manner from the very begin.
Mr. Johnson, 56, moved into his official residence in Downing Road with Ms. Symonds in 2019 earlier than his divorce from his second spouse, Marina Wheeler, had been accomplished. Ms. Symonds gave delivery to a son, Wilfred, final spring, solely weeks after Mr. Johnson had survived a near-fatal bout with Covid-19.
It’s the third marriage for Mr. Johnson and the primary for Ms. Symonds, 33, who has not too long ago come below scrutiny for her position in an costly refurbishment of the prime minister’s official quarters at Downing Road, which was initially financed by a donor to the Conservative Get together.
The afternoon wedding ceremony, in London’s primary Roman Catholic cathedral — lower than a mile from 10 Downing Road — was carried out in excessive secrecy, in accordance with The Mail and The Solar. Even Mr. Johnson’s shut aides weren’t informed upfront of the ceremony. At about 1:30 p.m., in accordance with The Solar, the church was abruptly cleared of tourists, and Mr. Johnson and his bride pulled up in a limousine.
In accordance with coronavirus restrictions, there have been solely 30 visitors within the byzantine-style church — together with Mr. Johnson’s father, Stanley — all of whom had been invited at quick discover. Ms. Symonds wore an extended white costume however no veil, in accordance with The Solar. The couple’s year-old son was among the many witnesses.
The marriage was not confirmed by Downing Road. However information studies on Saturday night drew congratulations from political figures, together with Arlene Foster, the primary minister of Northern Eire, who mentioned on Twitter, “Large congratulations to Boris Johnson & Carrie Symonds in your wedding ceremony immediately.”
Mr. Johnson is the primary British prime minister to be married in workplace since Lord Liverpool married Mary Chester in 1822, his second marriage. However a lot about Mr. Johnson and Ms. Symonds’s relationship has appeared unorthodox by the comparatively typical requirements of Downing Road.
Mr. Johnson, who was baptized as a Catholic by his mom, transformed to the Anglican religion whereas in boarding college. He met Ms. Symonds, a Catholic and a former Conservative Get together communications aide, whereas he was married to his second spouse, Marina Wheeler, with whom he has 4 youngsters.
Mr. Johnson has by no means publicly confirmed what number of youngsters he has.
Mr. Johnson and Ms. Symonds disclosed that they have been engaged, and that she was pregnant, in February 2020, a month after Britain had formally left the European Union. That completely happy information was shortly overtaken by the pandemic, which claimed Mr. Johnson as an early sufferer when he grew to become ailing and ended up in an intensive care unit.
Ms. Symonds, who works for an animals-rights group, additionally contracted Covid and wrote on Twitter about her fears throughout these days.
Extra not too long ago, she has been pulled right into a furor over the expensive renovation of the couple’s condo at 11 Downing Road. A Conservative Get together donor, David Brownlow, paid for a number of the work, supplementing the state finances of 30,000 kilos, or $42,570, supplied for redecorating the condo. Mr. Johnson mentioned he had picked up the price of the refurbishment when he was informed of the association.
On Friday, an unbiased ethics adviser appointed by the federal government declared that Mr. Johnson had acted “unwisely” within the refurbishment of the condo however that he had not violated the ministerial code of conduct.
