Belfast Telegraph

PM’S dad: I broke lockdown to read of new grandson

- BY HENRY VAUGHAN

BORIS Johnson’s father has told how he broke Covid-19 lockdown rules to buy a newspaper after the Prime Minister’s son was born.

The PM and his fiancee Carrie Symonds announced she had given birth to a baby boy on April 29 weeks after Mr Johnson was discharged from intensive care where he had been battling coronaviru­s.

His father Stanley Johnson on Friday spoke of his delight after his grandchild was named Wilfred after the PM’S grandfathe­r, a Second World War RAF pilot.

He told ITV’S Good Morning Britain: “I’m thrilled that Boris and Carrie have named their boy after my late father Wilfred.

“It’s a wonderful, strange feeling, actually, to see that this name is going to live on in this young boy.

“I actually broke the lockdown rule ... but I went, I said ‘there’s bound to be something in the papers’ and went across to the garage...

“I said: ‘I know I’m not really meant to be out buying a newspaper, I’m not sure it’s an essential journey, but I just think there’s something in the paper today about my 14th grandchild’.”

Mr Johnson also revealed how he prayed for his high-profile son when he was at “death’s door” after the PM was admitted to intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital in London suffering with Covid-19.

“I think I was as worried as any father would be if their child is at death’s door,” he said.

“I was certainly worried, I’ve got to tell you, I make no bones about it, I said a prayer or two.”

❝ I think I was as worried as any father would be if their child is at death’s door... I said prayer or two

 ?? JOHN STILWELL ?? Stanley Johnson with Carrie Symonds at an anti-whaling protest
JOHN STILWELL Stanley Johnson with Carrie Symonds at an anti-whaling protest

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