Boris Johnson was back in hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning but this time for a happy event – the birth of a son with his partner Carrie Symonds.

Boris, 55, and Carrie, 32, announced on February 29 that they were expecting a baby in “early summer”, and that they had become engaged at the end of last year.

At a time when nearly all the news is filled with gloom and doom, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister had to issue a slightly unusual statement: “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 Prime Minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, said he was “absolutely delighted” and “thrilled” by the birth of his grandson.

The hospital was not immediately identified for fear it would be swamped by media but Boris was present for the birth. He only recently left St Thomas’ after very nearly dying from coronavirus, while Carrie, too, had to self-isolate in her flat in Camberwell, south London, but she recovered from a relatively mild attack of the virus. She sent Boris a scan of their unborn baby when he was in the ICU to boost his spirits.

Boris had to skip Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. He had said earlier that he hopes to take a two-week paternity leave although whether he will now be able to afford this luxury remains to be seen.

Boris and his half-Sikh wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20.

This is Carrie’s first child and the sixth or possibly seventh for Boris.

He has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre. Her daughter is allegedly one of two children he fathered as a result of an affair.

The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while mayor of London in 2009 — but also mentioned the possibility of a second baby.

His baby with Carrie is officially his sixth. Boris and Carrie made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street when they moved in last year.

The new arrival is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history.

Tony Blair’s wife Cherie gave birth to son Leo in May 2000, three years after her husband’s first election victory, and David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence in 2010.

Congratulations were offered to Boris and Carrie from across the political spectrum.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Wonderful news.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak commented: “Great to hear Downing Street is getting a new resident.” The man he replaced, Sajid Javid, tweeted: “Such wonderful uplifting news!”

Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, joined in: “Congratulations and prayers for @BorisJohnson and @CarrieSymonds as they welcome their son into the world. Wishing them every blessing and happiness.”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “Such happy news amid so much uncertainty – 2020 is certainly a year they will never forget.”

The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tweeted: “My dear friend, @BorisJohnson, warmest congratulations on the birth of a sweet baby boy!”