Carrie Johnson has been spotted staring at her future husband in an unearthed photo taken six years before the pair began dating.
Carrie, then aged 24, joined the Conservative Party in 2010 as a press officer, before two years later working on Boris Johnson’s re-election campaign as London mayor.
And in this picture taken in 2012, most members of the team are seen looking towards the camera - while Carrie glances towards the future Prime Minister as he gave a speech.
She later worked for the then-Culture Secretary John Whittingdale before taking on a role as media special adviser to Sajid Javid - but later left the team in 2018 to work for a wildlife charity.
In the same year Johnson announced he was divorcing his second wife, Marina Wheeler, amid whispers of a possible relationship with Carrie.
The image was published in Lord Ashcroft ’s new book, First Lady, about the influence of Mr Johnson’s now-wife.
Boris and Carrie got married in a secretly-planned wedding at Westminster Cathedral during May last year.
The couple are parents to two children, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, born in 2020, and Romy Iris Charlotte, who arrived in December.
Carrie has recently faced speculation about her political influence over her husband, causing her to speak out defensively.
In an extract from his book, Lord Ashcroft said his research suggested Carrie's behaviour "is preventing [Boris Johnson] from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve".
The Prime Minister's wife then issued a rare statement through her spokesperson, insisting she "plays no role in Government".
Allies dismissed the criticism as sexist, and a spokesperson for Mrs Johnson said last week: "Yet again Mrs Johnson has been targeted by a brutal briefing campaign against her by enemies of her husband."
Sarah Vine, Michael Gove ’s ex-wife, recently told the BBC ’s Sunday Morning programme: “The trouble is, it's always the easiest thing to do to blame the woman and the truth is far more complicated than that.
"I know that the nickname Carrie Antoinette is witty and a good pun and we all love a good pun, but I just don't think her head deserves to be on the block in this way."
A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson said: "She is a private individual who plays no role in government."
Mr Johnson became the first British prime minister to marry in office for 250 years when he and Carrie tied the knot.
He was the first to have a child in office since David and Samantha Cameron welcomed their daughter Florence.
