Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese married his partner Jodie Haydon on Saturday during an intimate ceremony at The Lodge in Canberra, becoming the first sitting leader of the country to wed while in office.
The occasion had been anticipated ever since Albanese proposed on Valentine’s Day last year, yet the exact plans remained out of sight until the couple released a brief statement after the event. The marriage marks a personal milestone for the prime minister, whose relationship with Haydon has been part of his public life since before the 2022 national election.
Albanese said the ceremony allowed them to share “our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends”. His office confirmed that only a small group of relatives and close companions attended.
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Haydon, who has often joined Albanese at political gatherings and travelled with him during the 2022 campaign, wore a creation by Sydney label Romance was Born. The prime minister chose a suit from MJ Bale. Haydon’s five year old niece Ella served as flower girl, while the couple’s dog Toto carried the rings.
Guests enjoyed beer poured from custom cans produced by Willie the Boatman, a brewery based in Sydney’s Inner West. After the ceremony, the pair walked out to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” before sharing their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight”.
The couple will remain inside Australia for a short honeymoon from Monday through Friday, with costs covered personally, according to the prime minister’s office.
Albanese has spoken in the past about meeting Haydon at an event in 2020 shortly before he became Labor leader. She later appeared frequently at public functions during his election drive, standing beside him through the campaign that ended in a strong win for his party.
This adds a rare note to the nation’s political history, as no previous Australian leader has married while serving in office.
