Prime Minister steps out without his wedding ring days after secret marriage to Carrie Symonds

Boris Johnson has appeared without a wedding ring just three days after his secret marriage ceremony to Carrie Symonds.

The Prime Minister put on a jolly display with school children in the Downing Street garden today, as he pledged 100 million hours of catch-up tuition following the pandemic. 

However as Johnson spoke to the children, gesticulating as he is prone to do, it became clear that his wedding band had still not made it to his finger. 

It is not known if the band, which was also missing from his hand in his wedding reception photos on Saturday, is being resized or if he is choosing not to wear one this time around. 

Downing Street declined to comment on the reason for the missing ring. 

The Prime Minister put on a jolly display with school children in the Downing Street garden today, as he pledged 100 million hours of catch-up tuition following the pandemic

It is not known if the band, which was also missing from his finger in his wedding reception photos on Saturday, has been sent off for resizing or if he is choosing not to wear one

A ringless Boris Johnson earlier today as he met with NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg

Sharing photos of himself and the children of St Joseph Primary school sat upon hay bales from his festival themed reception, Boris Johnson tweeted this afternoon: ‘Wonderful to meet some young guests who were on a special visit to Downing Street this afternoon.

‘We will do everything we can to support children who have lost learning during the pandemic, with up to 100 million hours of extra tuition.’  

No10 confirmed that the couple tied the knot in a ‘small ceremony’ at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday afternoon – with a bigger celebration planned for next summer.   

Images taken at the reception in the Downing Street garden were released showing Ms Symonds wearing a flowing white £2,870 lace gown by Costarellos and a garland of white flowers in her hair as she looks lovingly at her new husband in the sunlit garden.

Mr Johnson, in a smart dark suit, appeared to have brushed his unruly hair for the occasion, although his tie was slightly askew and he was not wearing a wedding ring.

Johnson shared photos of himself and the children of St Joseph Primary school sat upon hay bales from his festival themed wedding reception

Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a reception for school children, getting them to raise their hands in answer to a question

Johnson was all smiles as he entertained the youngsters whilst sat on a picnic blanket

Another photo tweeted by Tory MPs gave a more relaxed impression of the reception, with the barefoot bride – now to be known as Mrs Johnson – cuddling her beau who had unbuttoned his shirt collar and rolled up his sleeves.

Bunting and bales of hay are visible in the background, suggesting a Glastonbury-esque summery theme, which would have been helped by London experiencing the first hot weather for months over the weekend.

The event was the subject of an extraordinary cloak-and-dagger operation to keep it quiet. Aides spent hours refusing to comment on the Catholic service before it was revealed by the Mail on Sunday. 

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Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds gaze into each other’s eyes in the first picture released from their wedding. The photograph was taken in the garden at Downing Street

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly, who worked with Mr Johnson when he was London Mayor, posted a photo of a barefoot Ms Symonds – now Mrs Johnson – at an apparently summer-themed reception in the No10 garden yesterday 

Aerial photographs show a marquee and gazebo in the famous garden – with photographs from the past week showing that the marquee has been used in official functions such as a climate business drive.

However, No10 refused to say whether Mr Johnson had paid to use the facility for his own private celebration, insisting they were ‘not getting into the details’.

Ministers, Tory MPs and Keir Starmer have been congratulating the premier on his nuptials – although some Labour MPs have been less gracious and claimed the timing was an effort to ‘bury bad news’ about Covid. 

Mr Johnson, 56, exchanged vows with Ms Symonds, 33, in Catholic Westminster Cathedral (pictured) in front of a handful of close friends and family – becoming the first Prime Minister to marry in office since Lord Liverpool married Mary Chester in 1822

A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds were married yesterday [Saturday] afternoon in a small ceremony at Westminster Cathedral.

‘The couple will celebrate their wedding with family and friends next summer.’

Ms Symonds, 33, was wearing a £2,870 Costarellos embroidered tulle gown with tiered skirt, fitted bodice, bell sleeves and latticework trims for the big day.

Mr Johnson, 56, was the first Prime Minister to marry in office since Lord Liverpool joined forces with Mary Chester in 1822.