Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, looked “dapper” when he tied the knot with Carrie, 33, in a long white wedding dress in front of a select group of guests at Westminster Cathedral
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Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds “in private ceremony”
Boris Johnson is the first Prime Minister to marry in office in nearly two centuries.
The ceremony at Westminster Cathedral, less than two miles from Downing Street, was the culmination of a six-month “dagger-and-dagger” operation, according to insiders.
The plans were so secret that even high-ranking officials in Mr. Johnson’s office remained in the dark about yesterday’s wedding to Carrie Symonds.
Number 10 only confirmed in a brief statement this morning that the ceremony had taken place.
The 56-year-old prime minister and his 33-year-old bride were only allowed to invite 30 guests thanks to Covid regulations after they – unlike thousands of other couples across the UK – decided not to withdraw their wedding.
She wore a £ 2,870 dress by Greece-based luxury designer Christos Costarellos, it was reported.
It is believed that the guests were invited to the ceremony at the last minute, with amused tourists being led out of the building shortly before their arrival.
They later reportedly partied in a marquee in the garden at number 10, with the couple said to have danced American Pie to Don McLean’s song.
The first picture from the Prime Minister’s wedding to Carrie Symonds yesterday
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Carrie wore a long white dress with no veil, witnesses said, while the prime minister was said to have looked “very dapper” for the occasion. No pictures of the happy couple have been released yet.
In an obvious red herring, Mr Johnson and Carrie reportedly sent out save-the-date cards for June 30th next year.
A spokesman for No10 said this morning: “The Prime Minister and Ms. Symonds were married in a small ceremony yesterday afternoon at Westminster Cathedral. The couple will celebrate their wedding with family and friends next summer. “
Mr Johnson will return to work after the holiday weekend and postpone his honeymoon until next summer, sources said.
Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Carrie Johnson in the garden at 10 Downing Street after their wedding
This morning Tory MP James Cleverly shared a picture of the couple apparently in the garden on Downing Street after the ceremony.
It shows bunting and bales of hay, with Carrie wearing a ‘boho-chic’ dress with a flower garland around her head.
At this point, Mr Johnson had taken off his tie and jacket and was shown smiling with his wife.
The ceremony – the prime minister’s third marriage – was conducted by Father Daniel Humphreys, who gave directions to the couple prior to marriage and baptized their son Wilfred last year, The Sun reports.
Wilfred was present when his parents exchanged vows. Shortly before the service, his mother posted a picture of him on Instagram, surrounded by bluebells.
It is the first time since 1822 that a Prime Minister has married during his tenure – and Lord Liverpool is the last to walk down the aisle at the head.
They exchanged vows at Westminster Cathedral, which was vacated by tourists half an hour before the ceremony (file image)
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A pavilion was visible in the garden at 10 Downing Street this morning
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They became the first unmarried couple to live on Downing Street after Mr Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019.
This morning pictures of the smiling couple looking each other’s eyes were finally released, showing Carrie in a long white dress and the Prime Minister in a black suit with a blue tie.
The long tiered round neck dress with floral embellishments and bell sleeves costs £ 2,870, the Daily Mail reports.
Carrie is said to have arrived in a limousine shortly after the cathedral was cleared.
A witness told The Telegraph: “Carrie looked beautiful. She had a long white dress without a veil. “
Describing the happy couple, the insider continued, “He was extremely happy as you can imagine, he looked very chic and was wearing a very elegant suit.”
Carrie shared a picture of son Wilfred on Instagram shortly before the service
The Prime Minister reportedly “couldn’t take his eyes off” Carrie, who became his third wife at 1:30 pm yesterday.
The couple were happy to keep their plans a secret until the last moment, a buddy revealed.
A source close to the bride said, “You are both absolutely delighted.
“The whole thing was carried out in great secrecy and meticulously planned.
“It was just her secret and that made the day so special.”
A pavilion was visible in the garden at 10 Downing Street this morning while musicians were pictured leaving last night.
In pictures released this morning, the couple were shown looking each other in the eye
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Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds
Security around the Catholic cathedral was tight, and staff – who only knew the couple’s identity the day before – said there were police “everywhere”.
Invitee details were kept under lock and key, but Mr. Johnson’s father Stanley and siblings Rachel, Jo, and Leo were present.
A spokesman for Westminster Cathedral told the Sunday Times: “On Saturday, May 29th, the wedding of Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson took place at Westminster Cathedral.
Father Daniel Humphries led the service yesterday afternoon
Musicians were seen leaving 10 Downing Street after the party last night
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“The bride and groom are both parishioners of the Westminster Cathedral ward and baptized Catholics.
“All the necessary steps were taken both ecclesiastically and under civil law, and all formalities were dealt with before the wedding.”
The couple’s relationship became public just months after Mr Johnson split from second wife Marina Wheeler in 2018.
He and Mrs. Wheeler have four children together.
His first marriage to Allegra Mostyn-Owen was annulled in 1993.
He made a proposal to his partner while on vacation at Mustique in late 2019, which he believes was paid for by Tory donor David Ross.
The Prime Minister proposed Carrie in late 2019
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Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, confirmed earlier this month that she is still investigating whether he duly declared the vacation on the private island 16 months ago.
The joyous occasion comes at the end of a troubling week for the Prime Minister in which former advisor Dominic Cummings makes a series of explosive allegations about his handling of the Covid crisis.
Among them were claims that he said the virus “only” killed 80-year-olds and he supported claims that Mr Johnson said “keep bodies piled up by the thousands”.
Mr Cummings also claimed that in February 2020, as the pandemic turned into a major global crisis, Mr Johnson “was distracted by the conclusion of his divorce, his girlfriend wanted to announce her pregnancy and engagement, as well as his finances”.
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And on Friday, a watchdog said it was “unwise” of him to undertake a controversial renovation of his Downing Street apartment that was overseen by Carrie.
Vaccination Minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News today that he had not received an invitation to the wedding.
But he added, “I want to congratulate the Prime Minister and Carrie Symonds on tying the knot.
“It’s a great feeling when you get together and of course I think it’s a great thing for both of them that they really made the marriage vows.”
The service was held at Westminster Cathedral around 1:30 p.m. yesterday (file image)
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Mr. Zahawi said people shouldn’t use the ceremony to speculate that weddings cannot be held from June 21 without limits. He said the decision just hadn’t been made.
He added, “I wouldn’t extrapolate anything from that.
“On June 14th, we will be very clear on the data that we will continue to collect from Step 3 from May 17th onwards and share it with the nation.”
Labor MP Jon Trickett wrote, “It’s a good way to try to bury bad news.”
Labor leader Keir Starmer wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations to Boris & Carrie. Whatever our political differences, I wish you a happy life together. “
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster was one of the first to respond to the news and tweeted: “Congratulations to Boris Johnson & Carrie Symonds on your wedding today.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said, “What good news. I wish the Prime Minister and Carrie all the best and hope he has time for a honeymoon!”
