Style Mr May, Sir Website number10.gov.uk | Residence 10 Downing Street | |
Inaugural holder Catherine, Lady Walpole | ||
The Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the wife or husband of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. To date there have been 44 women and two men who have been married to British Prime Ministers while in office. The United Kingdom has also had four bachelor and several widower Prime Ministers; the last bachelor was Edward Heath, and the last widower was Ramsay MacDonald. The Duke of Grafton divorced and remarried while in office. The spouse of the present Prime Minister is Philip May, the husband of Theresa May.
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Role and duties
The role of the prime minister's spouse is not an official office and, as such, they are not given a salary or official duties. Some spouses, such as Norma Major, have chosen to remain very much in the background, although over time the position has evolved and others, such as Cherie Blair, have gained public attention through their own independent careers and achievements, as well as attending engagements such as the African First Ladies Summit. The role also includes playing host at 10 Downing Street during state visits and ceremonial functions. Samantha Cameron hosted a street party at Downing Street to celebrate the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The Prime Minister's spouse has gained more media attention over time especially concerning fashion and when attending functions such as national conference and at summit meetings, and though their role is not official, staff are appointed to help who form part of the Prime Minister's Office. Isabel Spearman is the current advisor to the husband of the Prime Minister.
Cherie Blair, with Cate Haste, wrote a book about recent prime ministerial spouses, The Goldfish Bowl: Married to the Prime Minister, 1955–1997, in 2005.
List of spouses of British Prime Ministers
The PMs names are those upon entering office; their spouses' names are those before marriage, with honours awarded in his or her own right from that time given beneath.
Living Spouses of the former Prime Ministers
As of March 2017, there are six living Spouses of the former Prime Ministers, as seen below.
Mary Wilson is the oldest living spouse and the longest-lived on record, having passed her 101st birthday on 12 January 2017.