Theresa May reveals her heartbreaking struggle to have children

Theresa May has revealed her heartbreaking struggle to have children which left both her and her husband "affected".

The Home Secretary said that she and husband Philip had to "accept the hand they were dealt" and found comfort in their happy marriage when they were given the devastating blow.

Mrs May spoke candidly for the first time about the issue in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.

"Of course we were both affected by it. You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you," she told the paper.

"Sometimes things you wish had happened don't or there are things you wish you'd been able to do, but can't. There are other couples in a similar position."

She said she and Philip sought happiness from other things in their lives that they were "blessed with".

The couple met while they were studying at Oxford University and were introduced at a Conservative Association dance by the late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Mrs May said they wanted to have children but found they could not, adding:

"It just didn't happen, so you know, it's one of those things."

Declining to reveal details about the help they sought for their fertility problems, she added:

"I'm a great believer that you just get on with things. There are lots of problems people have. We are all different, we all have different circumstances and you have to cope with whatever it is, try not to dwell on things."

Married for 35 years, when asked whether his wife would make a good prime minister her husband, who works in the City, said:

"She would be excellent, she always stays calm."