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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Frances Kindon

Carrie Johnson's 'subtle Boris glance hints at stinging attitude change' - expert

What a difference three years makes.

Back in July 2019, Boris Johnson moved into Number 10 Downing Street with girlfriend Carrie Symonds beaming proudly next to him.

Miss Symonds soon became Mrs Johnson, and the couple were joined in their domestic bliss by son Wilfred, two and baby daughter Romy.

But while Boris, 58, has undoubtedly been blessed in his private life, his professional life is hanging on by a thread after the shock walkout of his right hand men, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

The two key players turned their back on the government yesterday afternoon in protest to Boris' leadership.

Boris and Carrie Johnson were all smiles outside their Downing Street home (Peter Summers)

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And they're just the latest in a long line of his party members to vocalise their discontent. Only last month, Boris was forced to cling on for dear life when 41 per cent of his party turned against him in a vote of no confidence.

And body language expert Judi James says there's also been a clear shift in the dynamic between Boris and his wife, who she says used to hero-worship her other half and delight in being in his 'orbit'.

Referencing a picture of the pair at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester in 2019, Judi noted how proud Carrie looked, while Boris was the one with all the power.

Carrie and Boris Johnson pictured at the Conservative Party Conference in 2019 (Getty Images)

She explained: "The dynamic between Carrie and Boris here really did reflect the way that she was slowly emerging as his official plus one after what was presumably time spent trying to hide their relationship from the public gaze.

"Boris still looks wary and keen to disentangle from any signals of affection or even togetherness.

"Like a kid being dropped off at the school gate he appears keen to avoid any PDAs from Carrie, sticking one hand in his pocket and bending his other arm in an awkwardly truncated gesture, leaving Carrie to latch onto him like a barnacle, grabbing his arm to signify her newly-legit status.

"As a result we saw Boris trying to look heroic, go-getting and very much the star of the show and Carrie just looking pleased to be appearing in his orbit in public.

"Her pouting smile really did make her look like the cat that had got the cream - as much a proud fan of her alpha male as loving partner."

But fast-forward to the 2022 G7 summit in Germany and Judi says their positioning suggests a very different story.

Carrie and Boris cut a very different G7 summit in Germany on June 22 this year (Getty Images)

"Boris has been through the political and health wringer since 2019 and the result seems to be a total turn-around in his status and relationship signals with Carrie," she continued.

"Carrie has been seen hosting the partners of world leaders with confidence, and her image has had a bit of a re-brand.

"Promoted to a place next to Boris that is far more ‘first lady’, we now have Boris looking less assured and energised while Carrie smiles at him with a look of affectionate concern that could be read as slightly patronising, tilting her head as he speaks as though trying to help the words to come out of his mouth.

"The pose looks almost maternal, as though she is supporting her husband rather than clinging to him in awe."

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