British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have announced the birth of a healthy baby girl, on Thursday morning, capping a chaotic 24-hours for the under-pressure leader. 

"Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support," a spokesperson said in a statement.

Asked whether the prime minister would be taking a period of paternity leave, his spokesperson said he would continue to lead the country.

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Johnson imposed fresh coronavirus restrictions on England on Wednesday, just hours after apologising for a video apparently showing staff laughing about a party in Downing Street during a 2020 Christmas COVID-19 lockdown when such festivities were banned.

The latest rules, including an order to work from home where possible, wear masks in public and use vaccine passes, fell short of a lockdown, but angered some lawmakers in Johnson's own party and the retail and leisure sectors, which said they were being hammered.

But revelations of a series of 2020 Christmas gatherings - which Johnson's spokesman had denied were parties - provoked widespread anger, mockery and disdain due to perceived hypocrisy at the heart of government.