Carrie Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carrie Johnson
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Johnson in 2022
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Caroline Louise Beavan Symonds
17 March 1988 London, England
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| Alma mater | University of Warwick (BA) |
| Occupation | Media advisor |
| Known for | Spouse of the prime minister of the United Kingdom (2021–2022) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4 |
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Caroline Louise Beavan Johnson (born 17 March 1988), whose maiden name was Symonds, is an English media advisor. She is married to Boris Johnson, who used to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Carrie Johnson is the daughter of Matthew Symonds, who helped start The Independent newspaper. She worked for the Conservative Party as a media official. She is also an environmental activist. Today, she is a senior advisor for Oceana, a charity that works to protect the ocean. She also supports the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation.
Carrie Symonds started a relationship with Boris Johnson in 2018. At that time, he was the Foreign Secretary. In July 2019, Boris Johnson became the Prime Minister. He and Carrie Symonds moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street. She was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to live at Downing Street. On 29 February 2020, they announced they were engaged. Carrie Symonds married Boris Johnson in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Caroline Louise Beavan Symonds was born on 17 March 1988. Her father was Matthew Symonds, who co-founded The Independent newspaper. Her mother was Josephine McAfee, a lawyer who also worked for the newspaper. Her parents were married to other people when she was born.
Carrie was raised by her mother in East Sheen, South West London. From 1999 to 2006, she attended Godolphin and Latymer School. This is a private school for girls. She then went to the University of Warwick. There, she studied Art History and Theatre Studies. She earned her degree in 2009.
Career and Public Work
Carrie Symonds first wanted to be an actor. She tried out for the 2007 film Atonement but was not chosen. After that, she worked in marketing.
In 2009, Symonds joined the Conservative Party. She worked as a press officer. She helped with campaigns for Boris Johnson when he ran for mayor of London in 2010. She also helped newly elected Member of Parliament Zac Goldsmith with his campaigns. She worked as a media advisor for important government ministers. These included Sajid Javid and John Whittingdale. She also attended meetings of a group called Conservative Friends of Russia.
In 2018, Symonds became the Conservative Party's head of communications. She left this job later that year. She then started working in public relations for the Oceana project. She is a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. This group works to improve animal welfare.
Important Case Involvement
In 2007, when she was 19, Carrie Symonds was a passenger in a taxi driven by John Worboys. He was later found guilty of serious crimes against his passengers. She shared that she believed she was given a spiked drink by the taxi driver, which made her very ill.
Carrie Symonds was one of many women who spoke out against Worboys in court. She later told The Telegraph that he was a "sad, wicked man who is a danger to society." She was the youngest of his victims. She chose to share her story publicly. She also campaigned against his early release from prison. She helped raise money for a successful legal challenge against the decision to release him.
Personal Life
Carrie Symonds was previously in a relationship with journalist Harry Cole.
She started a relationship with British politician Boris Johnson in 2018. He was the Foreign Secretary at the time. In July 2019, Johnson became prime minister. Both he and Symonds moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street. She was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to live there. In August 2019, she was not allowed to enter the United States. This was because she had visited Somaliland, which the US considers part of Somalia. On 16 August 2019, she spoke publicly about the "gigantic" climate crisis.
On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Boris Johnson announced their engagement. They also shared they were expecting their first child. Their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, was born on 29 April 2020. Carrie is a Catholic. Her son was baptised into the Catholic Church.
Symonds married Boris Johnson secretly on 29 May 2021. The Catholic ceremony took place at Westminster Cathedral. Thirty guests attended. She wore a special bridal gown by a Greek designer. In July 2021, she announced they were expecting their second child. She also shared that she had a miscarriage earlier that year. Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, was born on 9 December 2021. Their third child, a son named Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson, was born on 5 July 2023. Their fourth child, a daughter named Poppy Eliza Josephine, was born on 21 May 2025.
In April 2022, she received a fine for breaking rules about gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. She apologized and paid the fine.
In the 2023 TV show Partygate, she was played by Rebecca Humphries.
Influence and Public Discussion
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Some people have raised concerns about her influence on the prime minister. For example, in January 2020, she met with animal rights activists. Soon after, the government changed a plan to control badgers in Derbyshire. Farmers' groups said her influence played a role in this decision.
She was also involved in discussions about who should get important jobs in government. She also had a role in a disagreement about the redecoration of the flat at 11 Downing Street. Her comments about the flat's decor led to some people calling her snobby.
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During the time Dominic Cummings was a chief advisor, he and Carrie Symonds were seen as two different groups influencing the prime minister. Cummings also claimed that the prime minister stopped an investigation because it might involve Carrie's friends. Cummings also accused a senior advisor, Henry Newman, of leaking government plans. Cummings later said in 2021 that Symonds acted wrongly by helping her friends get important jobs.
Some people, like Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, have said that the talk about Carrie Johnson's influence is unfair. They believe it is because she is a woman. Others have compared her to historical figures like Lady Macbeth. However, journalist Sarah Vine said that blaming the woman is too simple.
In December 2021, Politico Europe named her as one of the "disrupters" who would shape Europe.
In February 2022, Carrie Johnson's spokeswoman denied that Johnson had too much influence over her husband. This was in response to claims made in a book about her. Labour leader Keir Starmer said that people should be treated with respect in politics.
In June 2022, an article in The Times claimed that Boris Johnson suggested Carrie for a high-paying job in the Foreign Office. This was when he was Foreign Secretary and she was his partner. The idea was dropped after a senior aide threatened to resign. The newspaper later removed the story, but the journalist said he stood by it.
See also
In Spanish: Carrie Johnson para niños
