Boris Johnson at his grace-and-favour residence near Buckingham Palace in July, after he quit from government

Boris Johnson resisted Whitehall’s demands to leave his grace and favour residence for weeks after quitting as foreign secretary.

Mr Johnson resigned from the government over Theresa May’s Brexit plans on July 9 but did not move out of One Carlton Gardens, a large house in St James’s near Buckingham Palace, until July 30.

His decision to stay initially exasperated the civil service, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail.

Sir Simon McDonald, the permanent secretary of the foreign office, sent a text message to Mr Johnson only hours after he resigned telling him that the Cabinet Office wanted him to depart the residence within 48 hours. Sir Simon added that there was an expectation that the “packing-up period” be “v.short, ie if