Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of a "healthy baby boy".

The couple are "thrilled" and both mother and baby are "doing very well" following the birth at a London hospital on Wednesday morning, their spokeswoman said.

It is understood Mr Johnson was present throughout the birth. A photograph of him beaming on his return to Number 10 following the arrival of his son has been released by Downing Street.

Image: Carrie Symonds announced she was pregnant in February in a post on her Instagram account

Image: Boris Johnson after the birth of his son with Carrie Symonds. Pic: Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing St

"The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team," their spokeswoman said.

Mr Johnson only returned to work on Monday after spending time in intensive care with coronavirus.


Ms Symonds also suffered symptoms of the disease.

The couple announced at the end of February that they were expecting a baby in "early summer" and they became engaged at the end of last year.

Image: The couple had said they were expecting a baby in 'early summer'. Pic:Javier Garcia/BPI/Shutterstock

A Downing Street spokesman said the PM will take a short period of paternity leave later this year.

Mr Johnson returned to work in Number 10 following the birth, and spoke to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday afternoon about the UK's COVID-19 response.

The prime minister and his family are planning to live in their Downing Street flat along with their dog Dilyn, the Downing Street spokesman said.

The spokesman declined to say whether the baby was born prematurely, and did not provide details of the weight, timing, nature or location of the birth.

March 3: Johnson 'almost certainly' will take paternity leave

The PM's father Stanley Johnson said he was "absolutely delighted" by the arrival of his grandson, while Buckingham Palace said the Queen sent a private message of good wishes to the couple to congratulate them.

Messages of support also poured in from across the political spectrum following the news.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock posted on Twitter: "So thrilled for Boris and Carrie. Wonderful to have a moment of unalloyed joy!"

Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: "Great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident. Congratulations to @BorisJohnson and @carriesymonds on the birth of their son."

Image: Mr Johnson only returned to work on Monday after contracting coronavirus

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Wonderful news. Many congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds."

And Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote: "Some good news - sending congratulations to Carrie and the PM. And wishing health and happiness to the wee one."

Ms Symonds announced she was pregnant in February in a post on her Instagram account.

"I wouldn't normally post this kind of thing on here, but I wanted my friends to find out from me," she wrote.

Image: Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds adopted a dog called Dilyn

"Many of you already know, but for my friends that still don't, we got engaged at the end of last year, and we've got a baby hatching early summer. Feel incredibly blessed."

Earlier this month Ms Symonds told how life got "very dark" at times while her husband-to-be spent a week in St Thomas' Hospital with coronavirus, including three nights in intensive care.

Mr Johnson, 55, and 32-year-old Ms Symonds made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street when they moved in last July.

The baby is Ms Symonds' first child, while Mr Johnson already has four grown-up children with his second wife Marina Wheeler; Lara, Milo, Cassie and Theodore.

The PM also has a daughter with art consultant Helen Macintyre.

There has been speculation that Mr Johnson has fathered another extra-marital child.

Image: The couple's baby is Ms Symonds' first child

Asked how many children he had during the general election in November, he told LBC: "I love my children very much but they are not standing at this election. I'm therefore not going to comment on them."

The new arrival is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history.

Tony Blair's wife Cherie gave birth to son Leo in May 2000, three years after her husband's first election victory, and David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence in 2010.

The last babies born to prime ministers before Leo and Florence arrived more than 150 years ago.