As William Hague was forced to vigorously defend himself against allegations about his private life last night, he also revealed that his wife Ffion had had a series of miscarriages, the most recent having happened over the summer break.
In a statement issued by Mr Hague to end speculation about the nature of his relationship with his special adviser Chris Myers - who later resigned - the Foreign Secretary gave a candid account of he and his wife's struggle to start a family. He said that Ffion, 42, had 'suffered multiple miscarriages' and was 'still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer'.
Mr Hague went on to detail the couple's desire to have children, and the problems they have faced conceiving:
'I have made no secret of the fact that Ffion and I would love to start a family. For many years this has been our goal. Sadly this has proved more difficult for us than for most couples. We have encountered many difficulties and suffered multiple miscarriages, and indeed are still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer. We are aware that the stress of infertility can often strain a marriage, but in our case, thankfully, it has only brought us closer together'
He added: 'It has been an immensely traumatic and painful experience but our marriage is strong and we will face whatever the future brings together.'
What do you think about this story?
Was Mr Hague right to go public about Ffion's miscarriages and fertility issues?