Anthony Albanese becomes first sitting Australian PM to marry in office

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tied the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon in a private and intimate ceremony on November 29 at his official residence, The Lodge, in Canberra.

Albanese becomes the first Australian prime minister in the 124-year history of the federal government to marry while in office, AP reports.

The civil ceremony was attended by approximately 60 guests, including several cabinet ministers, and took place on the grounds of The Lodge. The event was kept private, with no media coverage until after the wedding.

In a joint statement, the couple said, “We are absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends.”

The pair composed their own vows for the ceremony. Their dog, Toto, served as ring bearer, while Haydon’s 5-year-old niece, Ella, acted as the flower girl.

Albanese, 62, who is divorced and has an adult son, proposed to Haydon, 46, at The Lodge on Valentine’s Day last year. The couple had originally planned a larger wedding ahead of the federal election, which was scheduled for May this year. Albanese had mentioned on a Sydney radio program that he was considering inviting former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he counts as a personal friend.

However, Labour Party strategists were concerned that a lavish wedding during a cost-of-living crisis could damage the government’s prospects for re-election for a second three-year term. As a result, the wedding was postponed until after the election. Albanese had previously indicated that the ceremony would take place in 2025 but did not disclose an exact date.

The wedding occurred two days after Parliament concluded its sessions for the year on Thursday.

Haydon, who works in finance, first met Albanese at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020.

By Tamilla Hasanova