Newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham officially entered 10 Downing Street on Monday, accompanied by his wife of 25 years, Marie-France van Heel.
The move followed his victory in the Makerfield by-election and the subsequent resignation of Sir Keir Starmer.
Burnham stepped down from his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester after winning the June 18 by-election.
His return to the House of Commons triggered Starmer's departure, leaving Burnham unopposed in the Labour Party leadership transition.
Van Heel, a Dutch-born marketing executive known to friends as Frankie, met Burnham at the University of Cambridge in 1989 while studying English at Fitzwilliam College.
Throughout Burnham's political career, which began with his election as an MP in 2001, van Heel has maintained a low public profile while building a professional career at organizations such as Sky, the BBC, and Heavenly.
The couple, who temporarily paused their early relationship when van Heel appeared on the television dating show Blind Date, shares three adult children: Rosie, Anne-Marie, and Jimmy.
Burnham previously reflected on the decision that led to their marriage.
"When my wife got pregnant for the first time it was a complete shock. My first thought was, 'Oh my God, we'll have to get married'," said Burnham.
Beyond her corporate work, van Heel served as chief marketing officer for electric vehicle charging company Iduna—a role Burnham formally declared to prevent potential conflicts of interest—and currently serves on the board of Plan International.
She has also been an active supporter of Cancer Research UK after undergoing a double mastectomy in 2010 due to a preventive genetic finding, following her sister's death from breast cancer at age 39.
Burnham discussed his wife's preventative health decision at the time. "The decision was liberating rather than depressing because it's lifted the cloud of fear.
She did what she did because she'd seen the devastation breast cancer had caused to her sisters and mother.
We more than most know what could have happened and we had to find a way to get beyond it," said Burnham.
The Burnham family officially established their residence at Downing Street following their acceptance of the King's invitation to form a new government.
