Queen Elizabeth will have Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds as guests in Balmoral in the summer. It's part of a long royal tradition but this will be the very first time an unmarried partner of a prime minister will be visiting the Queen's summer home.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Symonds will definitely join Johnson for his first visit to Balmoral. The visit will involve an informal barbecue where the prime minister's family are expected to stay for one weekend.
The summer visits have been described as a chill out and relaxing vibe, according to former prime minister David Cameron. However, Symonds might not enjoy the outdoor hunts that the royals love to do since she is an eco-campaigner.
The Queen's summer plans might still change due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreso, because Johnson is still not out of intensive care.
The prime minister, who is 55 years old, was admitted to the ICU of the St. Thomas Hospital last Sunday after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened. On the 10th day after testing positive for coronavirus, Johnson couldn't manage to keep his fever down and he had trouble breathing. Thus, his doctors said he should be in the hospital.
Symonds, who is pregnant with their first child together, also tested positive for COVID-19 but she is on the mend and is staying in self-isolation. According to reports, Symonds has been worried for her partner since she can't see or visit him at the hospital.
The prime minister needed oxygen to support his breathing. However, doctors said that he is breathing on his own and does not need a ventilator.
Johnson and Symonds have known each other for many years. She actually worked with Johnson when he got re-elected as mayor of London in 2012. They were romantically linked in early 2019, right after Johnson announced his separation from his second wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler. Their divorced was finalized in January this year. Symonds will be giving birth in the early summer and the child will be Johnson's sixth.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth, reportedly, receives hourly updates about Johnson's condition. She has offered her personal doctors to the prime minister if he needs it.
According to palace insiders, the Queen has great respect and a soft spot for Johnson after several "fun and informal" meetings with him. Publicly, the Queen wished for the prime minister's speedy recovery, as did Prince William and Prince Charles, on their social media accounts.
