Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds share first pic of baby Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas named after doctors who saved PM’s life
BORIS Johnson and Carrie Symonds today shared the first picture of their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas – named after doctors who saved the PM’s life.
The proud parents showed off their son after he was born on Wednesday – with his middle name Nicholas in tribute to the medics who treated Boris as he fought coronavirus.
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In the sweet photograph shared on Instagram Carrie is seen cradling her son – who already has a thick thatch of blond hair just like his dad’s.
Alongside the picture, new mum Carrie wrote: “Introducing Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson born on 29.04.20 at 9am.
“Wilfred after Boris’ grandfather.
“Lawrie after my grandfather.
“Nicholas after Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart – the two doctors that saved Boris’ life last month.
“Thank you so, so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH that looked after us so well.
“I couldn’t be happier. My heart is full.”
Carrie, 32, gave birth early Wednesday morning – just 16 days after Boris, 55, fought for his life in intensive care with coronavirus.
The new mum herself had fought the deadly bug.
The couple are now expected to live in their Downing Street home along with their Dog Dilyn.
The doctors Boris Johnson named his son after are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation.
Nicholas is in tribute to Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart “the two doctors that saved Boris’ life last month”, according to Ms Symonds.
Mr Johnson was admitted to intensive care at St Thomas’ hospital in London suffering with Covid-19.
Dr Nicholas Price is a consultant in infectious diseases and general medicine, according to the Guys and St Thomas’ NHS trust website, with further expertise in infection prevention and control.
Professor Nicholas Hart is the director of the Lane Fox Respiratory Service at the Guys and St Thomas’ trust, and a professor of respiratory and critical care medicine at King’s College London.
He has expertise in rehabilitation and home mechanical ventilation with chronic respiratory failure, according to his profile.
It is understood the PM was there for the birth – which came several weeks early.
But he was quick to return to work amid the coronavirus crisis – promising the nation he would outline the blueprints for how we will be released from the lockdown next week.
No 10 previously said the baby was due in early summer, with further reports suggesting the end of May or beginning of June, meaning the couple conceived shortly after moving into Downing Street last year.
What we know so far:
- Baby Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson’s middle name is in honour of the two doctors who saved Boris’ life
- Boris was present at the birth of his sixth child, and third son
- Baby comes after Boris’ life-and-death coronavirus battle and after Carrie fought off bug
- Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and ex-PM David Cameron led congratulations
- The Queen sent a private message of good wishes to the couple to congratulate them
It was confirmed that Boris will take his paternity leave later in the year, so he can still keep a firm grip on the country’s coronavirus crisis.
While the new arrival is Ms Symond’s first child, it is Mr Johnson’s sixth – and his third son.
He has four children with ex-wife Marina Wheeler – two sons Milo, 24, and Theodore, 20, and two daughters Lara, 26, and Cassia, 22.
Boris also has another daughter, Stephanie, born in 2009, after an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre.
A spokesman for the couple said: “The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital earlier this morning. Both mother and baby are doing very well.
“The PM and Ms Symonds would like to thank the fantastic NHS maternity team.”
The couple, who have been dating since he split from his wife Marina back in 2018, were engaged earlier this year on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique and announced they were expecting back in February.
How many children does Boris Johnson have and what are their names?
1) Lara Lettice
The 27-year-old is the eldest of Boris Johnson’s brood and was conceived ahead of her parents’ wedding.
The MP married barrister Marina Wheeler in 1993 when she was pregnant with their daughter.
Lara, who styles herself with the double barrelled surname Johnson-Wheeler, is a writer, editor and broadcaster.
2) Milo Johnson
The 25-year-old is the second eldest of the Johnson clan and is the oldest of his boys.
He was educated at the £27,174 a year Westminster School where he was said to excel at sports.
In a 2011 issue of his school magazine he was called a “delight to watch” and was “without doubt the player of the season” for his football skills.
3) Cassie Johnson
The 22-year-old is the third of Johnson’s children with Marina. She studied at the £18,000 per year Highgate School in North London.
Like her father she is a writer and during her time at the private school she was a student editor of their alumni magazine Cholmeleian.
She did not speak publicly about her parents’ divorce, unlike her sister Lara who branded Boris a “b*****d”.
4) Theodore Johnson
The 20-year-old is the youngest of Johnson’s children with ex-wife Marina.
It is not known which school he attended but it is believed to be one in London as he was pictured outside their Islington home in a school uniform in 2016.
He went on to attend Cambridge University – whereas his dad went to their rival Oxford.
5) Stephanie
His kids have a younger half-sister, Stephanie, who was born in 2009 – the product of an affair with art advisory Helen Macintyre.
Stephanie is the second youngest of Johnson’s children. At first, he denied paternity and wasn’t named on the birth certificate.
However, his relations were revealed after a 2013 court battle in which he sought an injunction to prevent her existence being reported.
6) Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas
Boris’ fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on May 29.
Both mum, 32, and baby are “doing very well” after the birth at the University College Hospital.
The newborn baby is the latest to be born to a serving prime minister.
Downing Street has been home to a number of babies, with Tony Blair and David Cameron both adding to their broods while in Number 10.
But that is a relatively recent trend, with a gap of more than a century before Cherie Blair gave birth to Downing Street tot Leo Blair in 1997.
The whirlwind birth comes after a busy few months for the PM.
After December’s election and passing Brexit on January 31, he quickly found himself dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in early March.
By April 5, he had contracted the deadly bug himself and ended up in hospital – spending three days in intensive care.
He finally returned to work on Monday – but now faces more sleepless nights as he welcomes the new bundle of joy.
Boris’ dad Stanley Johnson said he was “absolutely delighted” and “thrilled” with the news of another grandson.
And politicians from across the spectrum have sent their best wishes to the happy couple.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the new arrival was “fantastic news in challenging times”.
