Boris Johnson today admitted he was ‘very excited’ about the birth of his new child with Carrie Symonds and said he probably will help with changing nappies.
The Prime Minister appeared on the This Morning sofa where he was quizzed about the arrival of what will be his sixth child, expected in the early summer.
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, host Holly Willoughby told the Prime Minister: ‘We can’t let you go without saying congratulations.’
Mr Johnson admitted he was ‘very excited, very excited, but did not add anything else, prompting co-host Phillip Schofield to ask: ‘Is that it?’
When Schofield then asked: ‘How good are you at changing nappies? Will you change nappies?’, the Prime Minister appeared flustered before eventually saying: ‘I expect so.’
Boris and Miss Symonds announced she was pregnant at the weekend with what will be his sixth child, and revealed they were now engaged.
He would not answer when asked how the rest of his family are taking the news, and when Schofield questioned him on his reticence to discuss his personal life, saying: ‘All family life is happening in Downing Street and you won’t talk about it,’ Mr Johnson replied: ‘Very sensibly.’
He added: ‘I’ve spent an awfully long time deliberately not going on about it, for the very good reason that there are people that I love that I don’t want to put in the debate and that’s the reason.’
Mr Johnson looked uncomfortable during the grilling about his baby news, but admitted he will change his baby’s nappies
Schofield laughed and said: ‘You can answer if you are going to change nappies..’ to which Mr Johnson replied: ‘That was tricky one, coming in on middle stump, if I said no…’
Holly then replied: ‘You could have said yes!’ before Mr Johnson responded: ‘I did say yes.’
The couple announced at the weekend that they had become engaged, and are expecting their first child in the early summer – thought to be late May or early June.
Earlier this week Boris declared he will take paternity leave when his new fiancee has their child.
Boris Johnson today said he was ‘excited’ over the birth of his new child with Carrie Symonds and admitted he ‘obviously will’ change his baby’s nappy
Carrie Symonds announced at the weekend that she and Boris Johnson are having a baby and are engaged
The timing of the announcement immediately raised questions about whether he would be able to take a break, as his working schedule appears to be hectic.
It includes a G7 summit in the US in June, and a crucial meeting with EU leaders on the post-Brexit trade deal the same month.
However, asked at a press conference in Downing Street whether he would be taking paternity leave, Mr Johnson said: ‘Almost certainly, yes.’
The couple are the first unmarried one to live in Downing Street together for many years.
They met when Miss Symonds worked on his successful bid for a second term as London Mayor in 2012, but were only linked romantically in 2018, shortly after his split from Miss Wheeler.
They have made very few public appearances, with Miss Symonds often on the sidelines away from the rest of his family.
Mr Johnson’s former wife Marina Wheeler – with whom he has four children – has been granted a decree nisi, the initial stage of a divorce.
However, it is not clear if she has a decree absolute – the second stage in the process.
Miss Symonds, 31, is said to be keen on a home birth, which could mean the baby is born at No10 Downing Street or Chequers.
Friends reportedly say Ms Wheeler is ‘crushed’ by her ex-husband’s double announcement.
A source told The Sun: ‘Carrie has told Boris that a home birth is one thing she’s very keen on. She likes to do things her way.
‘She has a few options where she could have their firstborn. It could mean Downing Street, Chequers or even Chevening, Kent.’
Only one in 50 women in England and Wales opt for home births. There are greater risks of complications, from 5 in every 1,000 births in hospital to 9 in every 1,000 at home.