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In pictures: The rise and fall of a prime minister

Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party, less than three years after leading them to election victory. He will stay on as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until his replacement is elected. Here we chart his rise and fall in pictures.

News imageShutterstock Boris Johnson in a pillow fight at Eton School, September 1979Shutterstock
Boris Johnson was born on 19 June 1964, in New York, and his family moved many times during his childhood. He went to Eton College.
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News imageGetty Images Boris JohnsonGetty Images
He went on to University of Oxford, where was president of the Oxford Union. It's also where he met his first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen. They divorced in 1993.
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News imagePhoto by Neville Elder/Corbis via Getty Images The Telegraph journalist and editor of the New Statesman, Boris JohnsonPhoto by Neville Elder/Corbis via Getty Images
His first career was as a journalist. He worked for the Daily Telegraph, and eventually became editor of the Spectator magazine.
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News imageEleanor Bentall / Corbis via Getty Images Boris Johnson, British Conservative politician and journalist being taught how to dance by Ulrika JonssonEleanor Bentall / Corbis via Getty Images
A flamboyant character, he appeared on the BBC's Have I Got News for You programme, and was pictured being taught to dance by television presenter Ulrika Jonsson.
News imageDavid Sandison/The Independent/Shutterstock Boris Johnson campaigning in HenleyDavid Sandison/The Independent/Shutterstock
He had always nursed political ambitions, and in 2001 he was elected as the Conservative MP for Henley.
News imageShutterstock Boris Johnson takes to the water on the River Thames in a coracle in aid of Save The Children.Shutterstock
His style was often unconventional. In 2003, he took to the River Thames in a coracle, in aid of Save The Children.
News imageRebecca Naden / PA Media England's Boris Johnson (bottom) tackles Germany's Maurizio Gaudino during the Legends match at the Madejski Stadium in ReadingRebecca Naden / PA Media
Known for throwing himself into whatever was before him, he was pictured rugby-tackling German midfielder Maurizio Gaudino during a charity football match at the Madejski Stadium in Reading.
News imageAnthony Devlin / PA Media Conservative candidate for Mayor of London Boris Johnson launching the final phase of his mayoral campaign at Bounces Road Community Hall in north LondonAnthony Devlin / PA Media
By 2008, he was the Conservative candidate for mayor of London.
News imageStefan Rousseau / PA Media Conservative Party leader David Cameron congratulates Boris Johnson on becoming London Mayor at Tory HQ in central LondonStefan Rousseau / PA Media
He won by a comfortable margin and is pictured here being congratulated by then Conservative Party leader David Cameron on the night of his election victory.
News imageGetty Images Boris Johnson and Marina Wheeler in the back of a carGetty Images
By then he was married to Marina Wheeler, a barrister. They had four children and divorced in 2020.
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News imageBarcroft Media / Getty Images London Mayor Boris Johnson as he is left hanging in mid-air after he got stuck on a zipwire at an Olympic event at Victoria Park in the capitalBarcroft Media / Getty Images
London's successful bid to host the Olympics in 2012 provided more photo opportunities.
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News imageStefan Rousseau / PA Media Mayor of London Boris Johnson joins a Street Rugby tournament in TokyoStefan Rousseau / PA Media
As did a trade visit to Japan, where he knocked over a 10-year-old while playing touch rugby.
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News imageJonathan Brady / PA Media Mayor of London Boris Johnson cycles across Wandsworth BridgeJonathan Brady / PA Media
A keen cyclist, his time as mayor also saw the introduction of a public bicycle hire scheme and cycle superhighways in London.
News imageChris Radburn / PA Media Prime Minister David Cameron (right) and mayor of London Boris Johnson take part in a hand-painting sessionChris Radburn / PA Media
Mr Johnson returned to national politics - winning a seat in Parliament in the 2015 general election under the leadership of Prime Minister David Cameron - but also continued as mayor of London until 2016.
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News imageStefan Rousseau / PA Media Michael Gove and Boris Johnson (right) on the Vote Leave campaign bus in Lancashire, as part of the Vote Leave EU referendum campaignStefan Rousseau / PA Media
He was thrust into the limelight in the 2016 EU referendum, when he and Michael Gove campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union.
News imageOli Scarff / Getty Images London Mayor and Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Boris Johnson poses for photographs after addressing campaigners in Manchester, 15 April 2016Oli Scarff / Getty Images
The Vote Leave campaign won the referendum.
News imageLeon Neal / AFP Brexit campaigner and former London mayor Boris Johnson addresses a press conference in central London, 30 June 2016Leon Neal / AFP
Mr Cameron stood down as prime minister the next day, but Mr Johnson confounded expectations when he announced he would not stand to succeed him.
News imageLeon Neal / AFP Prime Minister Theresa May with Foreign Secretary Boris JohnsonLeon Neal / AFP
Theresa May became prime minister and appointed Mr Johnson to the post of foreign secretary.
News imageSoe Zeya Tun / AFP British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visits the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, 21 January 2017Soe Zeya Tun / AFP
As foreign secretary, Mr Johnson travelled widely, and is seen here on a trip to Myanmar in 2017. The following year he resigned from the cabinet in protest at Mrs May's Brexit deal.
News imageDavid Mirzoeff / PA Media Conservative party leadership contender Boris Johnson during a Tory leadership hustings at the All Nations Centre in CardiffDavid Mirzoeff / PA Media
After months of political deadlock over how the UK would leave the EU, Mrs May was forced to stand down. Mr Johnson threw his hat in the ring to replace her as prime minister.
News imageVictoria Jones / PA Media Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham PalaceVictoria Jones / PA Media
He beat Jeremy Hunt by 92,153 votes to 46,656 to be elected the new Conservative leader, and was asked to form a government by the Queen.
News imageStefan Rousseau / PA Media Boris Johnson at a boxing club during campaignStefan Rousseau / PA Media
After Mr Johnson found himself unable to make progress on Brexit, he called another general election. During the campaign, he said the UK would fully exit the EU by December 2020.
News imageStefan Rousseau / PA Media Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson is greeted by staff as he arrives back at 10 Downing Street, 13 December 2019Stefan Rousseau / PA Media
His gamble paid off as he was returned to power with a much-increased majority.
News imageYui Mok / PA Media Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive in Downing Street after the Conservative Party was returned to power in the General Election with an increased majorityYui Mok / PA Media
Mr Johnson was back in 10 Downing Street with his partner, Carrie Symonds.
News imageIan Vogler / Daily Mirror / PA Media Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, LondonIan Vogler / Daily Mirror / PA Media
By January 2020, the UK had left the EU but it, like the rest of the world, faced a growing challenge as coronavirus started to spread following an initial outbreak in China.
News imageAaron Chown / PA Media Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) and Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing StreetAaron Chown / PA Media
The virus led to extreme measures, with people told to stay at home and practise social distancing. Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak joined in national applause to show appreciation for NHS workers.
News imageAndrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street British Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs a morning COVID-19 update meeting remotelyAndrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
Mr Johnson himself caught the virus and had to self-isolate, though still led the country from his home. But after 10 days, his symptoms had deteriorated and he was taken to hospital, spending some time in intensive care.
News imageDaniel Leal / AFP Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks out of 10 Downing Street to give a statement in central London on 27 April 2020Daniel Leal / AFP
Three weeks later he was back at work, praising the "sheer grit and guts" of the British public.
News imageAndrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds with their son Wilfred in the study of No10 Downing StreetAndrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
Weeks later, Mr Johnson and his fiancée Ms Symonds announced the birth of a son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. The name Nicholas was a tribute to the two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus.
News imageLeon Neal / Getty Images Mr Johnson at a press briefingLeon Neal / Getty Images
At the end of October, Mr Johnson announced a second lockdown would begin in England to prevent a "medical and moral disaster" for the NHS. He said he hoped taking immediate action would mean families could get together for Christmas.
News image Frank Augstein / AFP Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds after nurse Rebecca Cathersides administered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Lyn Wheeler at Guy's Hospital in London Frank Augstein / AFP
There was some good news in December, as the biggest vaccination programme in the country's history began. On a visit to a London hospital to see some of the first people getting the jab, Mr Johnson said getting vaccinated was "good for you and good for the whole country".
News image Rebecca Fulton / Downing Street via Getty Images Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses with his wife Carrie Johnson in the garden of 10 Downing Street following their wedding at Westminster Cathedral, 29 May 2021 Rebecca Fulton / Downing Street via Getty Images
In a secretly planned wedding at Westminster Cathedral, Mr Johnson married Ms Symonds in May 2021.
News imageSteffan Rousseau / PA Media Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, the Speaker of the Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Westminster CathedralSteffan Rousseau / PA Media
The death of the MP Sir David Amess, 69, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, shocked the country. Mr Johnson told how several members of his cabinet broke down in tears when they learned of the death.
News image Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson, with their daughter Romy, hold video calls from Chequers, 23 December 2021 Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
In December 2021, Mrs Johnson gave birth to their second child, a girl called Romy. Here the couple and the baby are seen on a video call at Chequers.
News imageSue Gray Report/Cabinet Office Photo of Mr Johnson at a so-called Downing Street partySue Gray Report/Cabinet Office
In January 2022, Mr Johnson and his government faced mounting pressure over several events that are alleged to have been held during lockdowns. In June, he faced a confidence vote in his leadership - winning by 211 votes to 148, in a secret ballot of Conservative MPs.
News imageUkraine Government Mr Johnson with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, during a visit to Kyiv, 9 April 2022Ukraine Government
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mr Johnson offered military equipment to help the country defend its territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the prime minister after he announced his resignation, during which Kyiv officials says the Ukrainian leader expressed his "sadness" upon hearing the news.
News imageHenry Nicholls/ Reuters Boris Johnson in Downing Street, 7 July 2022Henry Nicholls/ Reuters
Having been dogged by controversy, including the fine for breaking his own lockdown laws and his handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher, Mr Johnson announced his resignation on 7 July, following a flood of government resignations.

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