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 | 3 |
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Caroline Louise Beavan Johnson (born 17 March 1988) is an English media expert. She is married to Boris Johnson, who used to be the Prime Minister of the UK. Her father, Matthew Symonds, helped start a newspaper called The Independent.
Carrie Johnson has worked for the Conservative Party as a media official. She is also very involved in protecting the environment. She is a senior advisor for Oceana, a charity that helps protect oceans. She also supports the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, which works for animal welfare.
She and Boris Johnson moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street in July 2019. This was when he became Prime Minister. She was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to live at Downing Street. They announced their engagement in February 2020 and got married in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Caroline Louise Beavan Symonds was born on 17 March 1988 in London, England. Her father, Matthew Symonds, was a co-founder of The Independent newspaper. Her mother, Josephine McAfee, was a lawyer who also worked for the newspaper.
Her grandfather, John Beavan, Baron Ardwick, was an editor and later a politician. Her grandmother, Anne Symonds, was a journalist for the BBC.
Carrie grew up in East Sheen, South West London. She went to Godolphin and Latymer School, a private school for girls, from 1999 to 2006. After school, she studied Art History and Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick. She graduated in 2009.
Career and Public Work
Carrie Johnson first thought about becoming an actor. She even auditioned for a movie called Atonement in 2007, but she didn't get the part. After that, she started working in marketing.
In 2009, she joined the Conservative Party as a press officer. She worked at the party's main office and helped with campaigns. She also worked for politicians like Sajid Javid and John Whittingdale, advising them on media.
In 2018, she became the Conservative Party's head of communications. She left this job later that year to work in public relations for Oceana. This project focuses on protecting the oceans.
She is also a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. This group works to improve the lives of animals.
Speaking Out for Justice
Carrie Johnson was one of 14 women who spoke out against a man named John Worboys. She shared her experience of being attacked by him. She believed he had put something in her drink.
She bravely decided to share her story publicly. She also campaigned against his early release from prison. She helped raise money for a legal review of the decision to release him.
Personal Life and Family
Carrie Johnson began a relationship with Boris Johnson in 2018. At the time, he was the Foreign Secretary.
In July 2019, Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. Carrie and Boris then 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 spoke publicly about the "gigantic" climate crisis. This was her first big public appearance after moving into Downing Street.
On 29 February 2020, Carrie and Boris Johnson announced they were engaged. They also shared that they were expecting their first child. Their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, was born on 29 April 2020. Carrie is a Catholic, and her son was baptised into the Catholic Church.
They got married secretly on 29 May 2021 in a Catholic ceremony. Only thirty guests were there. In July 2021, she announced they were expecting their second child. Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, was born on 9 December 2021. In May 2023, she announced she was pregnant again. Their son, Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson, was born on 5 July 2023.
In April 2022, she received a fine for breaking COVID-19 rules during the Partygate scandal. She apologized and paid the fine.
Political Influence and Public Opinion
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Some people have talked about Carrie Johnson's influence on her husband, the former Prime Minister. For example, in 2020, concerns were raised when the government changed a plan to cull badgers. This happened after she met with animal rights activists. 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 comments about the decoration of the flat at 11 Downing Street. Some people thought her comments showed snobbery.
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Some people, like former adviser Dominic Cummings, said that Carrie Johnson had too much influence. He claimed she helped her friends get important jobs.
However, other people have said that the idea of her having too much influence is unfair. Conservative MP Caroline Nokes said that criticism of Carrie Johnson is sometimes sexist. She said it's easy to "blame the woman," but the truth is usually more complicated.
In 2021, Politico Europe named her as one of the "disrupters" who would shape Europe. This shows her growing public profile.
In February 2022, Carrie Johnson's spokeswoman said that she does not control her husband's decisions. This was in response to a book written about her.
Images for kids
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Johnson in 2022
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Symonds and Boris Johnson on Commonwealth Day, March 2020
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Johnson greeting U.S. First Lady Jill Biden at the 47th G7 summit in Cornwall, June 2021
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Carrie and Boris Johnson departing 10 Downing Street
