Orris and Carrie Johnson celebrated their wedding at the grand Cotswolds estate of a major Tory donor with guests including stalwarts Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries on Saturday. The outgoing Prime Minister and his wife hosted family and friends at 18th-century Daylesford House to celebrate their wedding in a larger circle after the pandemic forced them to curtail celebrations last year. The 81-year-old father of three married groom Stanley Johnson and his sister Rachel Johnson were there to celebrate his latest wedding, while Australian actress Holly Valance was also seen entering the estate. Political allies also pictured on arrival included Conservative Lord Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP John Whittingdale, as well as cabinet colleagues Mr Rees-Mogg and Ms Dorries. There were questions about whether defectors from Mr Johnson’s government would disappear from the invite list, with former health secretary Sajid Javid one of those not spotted arriving.
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Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and current foreign secretary Liz Truss missed the party as they campaigned to replace the prime minister. A possibly less welcome guest was anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray, who appeared on a street near the wedding venue with a giant banner reading ‘corrupt Tory government’. Ms Truss, on a campaign visit to Bromley, defended Mr Johnson for holding the lavish celebrations at a time when millions are struggling with ballooning bills. Asked if the prime minister should focus on such crises facing the country instead of partying, she told reporters: “I think he deserves to enjoy his wedding day and I wish him and Carrie and the whole family the best.” The event was held under a huge white marquee in the extensive landscaped grounds of Daylesford House in Gloucestershire. The Grade I-listed mansion is owned by Lord Bamford, chairman of construction equipment manufacturer JCB, who has donated millions to the Conservatives. Stanley Johnson arrives at Daylesford House (Beresford Hodge/PA) / PA Wire Staff were seen this week walking in and out of the shuttered stage amid apparent party preparations. Visitors could relax on hay bales and benches outside the marquee and eat and drink at kegs and small tables as they enjoyed views of vast meadows and orchards. Mr and Mrs Johnson originally planned to hold their wedding party at the Prime Minister’s official country home, Cheques, in Buckinghamshire. These plans led to suggestions that Mr Johnson wanted to stay on as caretaker prime minister, in part to achieve this, although this was denied by Downing Street. They are said to have sent out save cards for a celebration on July 30, before deciding to change locations. The couple married in a quiet private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year, arranged in secret, in front of a small group of family and friends. A reception followed in the gardens of 10 Downing Street with a limited number of guests due to the coronavirus restrictions. It was understood that Mr and Mrs Johnson were planning to have a bigger celebration this year after restrictions were eased. Boris Johnson with Lord Bamford (Ben Stansall/PA) / PA File Billionaire Lord Bamford is covering at least part of the cost of the party, the Mirror reported, citing unnamed sources. It is not the first time Mr Johnson has benefited from the support of the JCB chairman. The Tory peer backed his 2019 leadership bid, with Mr Johnson knocking down a wall with a JCB digger at the Staffordshire factory in a stunt to prove he could “get Brexit done”. Lord Bamford’s wife, Lady Carole Bamford, set up the luxury organic farm Daylesford, with a chain of shops selling its produce across London. Mr Johnson is said to have received around £12,500 worth of food from the Daylesford farm shop during the pandemic, although Downing Street said he paid for the cost of all the food for “personal consumption”. When asked about the wedding celebrations, the No 10 declined to comment on the “private matter”.
