oris and Carrie Johnson celebrated their wedding at the grand Cotswolds estate of a major Tory donor with guests including staunch loyalists Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries.
The outgoing Prime Minister and his wife hosted family and friends at the 18th-century Daylesford House to celebrate their wedding more widely after the pandemic forced them to scale back the festivities last year.
The 81-year-old father of the thrice-married groom Stanley Johnson and sister Rachel Johnson were there to celebrate his last marriage, while Australian actor Holly Valance also moved into the estate.
Political allies also in the picture included Conservative Lord Zac Goldsmith and Tory MP John Whittingdale, as well as cabinet colleagues Mr Rees-Mogg and Mrs Dorries.
There were questions about whether defectors from Mr Johnson’s government would be removed from the guest list, with former health minister Sajid Javid being one of those notably not noticed.
Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and current Foreign Minister Liz Truss missed the party as they campaigned to replace the prime minister.
A probably less liked guest was an anti-Brexit protester Steve Braywho stood on a road near the wedding venue with a giant banner that read “corrupt Tory government”.
Ms Truss, during a campaign visit in Bromley, defended Mr Johnson for holding the lavish celebrations at a time when millions struggle with mounting bills.
Asked if the prime minister should focus on such crises in the country rather than partying, she told reporters: “I think he has the right to enjoy his wedding day, and I wish him and Carrie and the whole family the best.”
The event was held in a huge white tent on the extensive landscaped grounds of Daylesford House in Gloucestershire.
The Grade II listed mansion is owned by Lord Bamford, chairman of construction equipment manufacturer JCB, who has donated millions to the Conservatives.
Employees were seen going in and out of the tent with streamers this week, amid apparent party preparations.
Guests could relax on hay bales and benches placed outside the tent and eat and drink at barrels and small tables while enjoying the view over expansive meadows and orchards.
Mr and Mrs Johnson originally planned to have their wedding party at the Prime Minister’s official country residence, Checkers, in Buckinghamshire.
Those plans led to suggestions that Mr Johnson wanted to stay on in part as interim prime minister to push through, although this was denied by Downing Street.
They allegedly sent save-the-date cards to a party on July 30, before deciding to change venues.
The couple married in a quiet private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year, secretly organized for a small group of family and friends.
This was followed by a reception in the gardens at 10 Downing Street with a limited number of guests due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Mr and Mrs Johnson were known to be planning a bigger party this year after restrictions were eased.
Boris Johnson with Lord Bamford (Ben Stansall/PA) Billionaire Lord Bamford will cover at least part of the cost of the party, The Mirror reported, citing anonymous sources.
It is not the first time Johnson has benefited from the support of the JCB chairman.
The Tory peer backed up his leadership bid in 2019, with Mr Johnson knocking down a wall with a JCB digger at the Staffordshire factory in a stunt to show he could “make Brexit done”.
Lord Bamford’s wife, Lady Carole Bamford, founded the chic Daylesford Organic Farm, with a chain of stores selling its produce throughout London.
Mr Johnson reportedly received food from the farm shop in Daylesford worth an estimated £12,500 during the pandemic, although Downing Street said he paid the cost of all food for “personal consumption”.
When asked about the wedding celebrations, No. 10 declined to comment on the “private matter”.