At last, it’s Carrie’s first engagement (and no, that doesn’t mean Boris has proposed!)
BEAMING in mustard yellow, Carrie Symonds was pictured with Boris Johnson inside No 10 for the first time yesterday.
The Prime Minister and his girlfriend were seen laughing as they sat next to each other at a reception for frontline hospice staff.
Mr Johnson, 55, was also pictured standing behind the 31-year-old with his hands on his hips as she chatted to a group of women at the event.
No 10’s official Twitter account published photos from the event, with the caption: ‘PM Boris Johnson hosted a reception at Downing Street to thank hospice staff for their hard work, dedication and compassion.’
And Miss Symonds, who appears to have dyed her hair a darker shade, tweeted: ‘Such a privilege to meet so many inspiring people who do such incredible work.’
She has largely kept out of the spotlight since Mr Johnson moved into Downing Street. She was photographed watching his first speech as Prime Minister on the steps of No 10 last month, and was then spotted enjoying an evening out with him at an italian bistro. However, no official pictures of the pair together had been released until yesterday.
The couple had been living together at Miss Symonds’s flat in Camberwell, south London, where neighbours recorded the couple having an explosive row.
They had already put in an offer on a £1.3million four-bedroom home and started staying at a friend’s house while they waited to exchange contracts.
They are now the first unmarried couple to live in Downing Street and reside in the expansive flat above No 11. Miss Symonds worked for Chancellor Sajid Javid when he held the local government brief, as well as for John Whittingdale during his time as Culture Secretary.
She held the strategic role of Tory communications chief but quit working for Conservative Campaign Headquarters in 2018. She grew up in East Sheen, southwest London, and attended the prestigious Godolphin and Latymer School.
The couple have not commented on the row at her old flat. Mr Johnson told the BBC it was ‘simply unfair’ to ‘drag’ his loved ones into politics.