Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese married his partner Jodie Haydon on Saturday in a private ceremony at his official residence in Canberra, marking the first time an Australian leader has wed while serving in office.
The couple exchanged vows before about 60 guests, including several cabinet members, during an afternoon ceremony at The Lodge. A civil celebrant officiated, and the event remained undisclosed to the media until it had concluded, reports UNB.
In a joint statement, the pair said they were “absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends.”
They wrote their own vows, and their dog Toto carried the rings. Haydon’s five-year-old niece Ella served as the flower girl, the statement added.
Albanese, 62, who is divorced and has an adult son, proposed to Haydon, 46, at The Lodge on Valentine’s Day last year. They initially considered a larger wedding before this year’s national election was scheduled for May, and Albanese had even mentioned the possibility of inviting former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he regards as a personal friend.
However, Labor Party strategists warned that a high-profile celebration during a cost of living crisis could politically damage the government, prompting the couple to postpone the wedding until after the vote.
Although Albanese had said the wedding would take place in 2025, he did not disclose the date in advance.
Haydon, who works in finance, first met Albanese during a business event in Melbourne in 2020. The wedding took place two days after Parliament wrapped up for the year on Thursday.
