Anthony Albanese has become the first sitting Australian Prime Minister to marry while in office, tying the knot with his long-time partner Jodie Haydon in a private ceremony at The Lodge on Saturday.
Albanese, 62, confirmed the news himself by posting a short video on X with the single-word caption “Married”. In a joint statement carried by Reuters, the couple 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.”
The wedding was kept almost entirely under wraps, with only immediate family, a small circle of friends and select Cabinet colleagues in attendance.
Who is Jodie Haydon?
Born in 1979, Haydon spent her childhood in Bankstown before moving with her family to Sydney, according to reports by the Sydney Morning Herald. She grew up close to her grandparents in Avoca and balanced her school life with netball matches, part-time work at a local fish-and-chip shop and classes at Kincumber High School.
Despite coming from a family of teachers, Haydon eventually left university to focus on a career in the superannuation industry. Over the next two decades, she worked across major financial institutions and industry funds before moving into senior strategic leadership roles.
In 2022, she was appointed a women’s officer after serving as a union delegate with the NSW Public Service Association. She currently heads strategic partnerships at Teachers Mutual Bank.
How their relationship began
Albanese and Haydon first crossed paths at a dinner event in Melbourne in March 2020. During the event, she called out “up the Rabbitohs’” as the Labor leader was speaking, referring to his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The moment echoed an earlier encounter at a 2019 union conference, shortly after Albanese separated from his former wife Carmel Tebbutt. On that occasion, Haydon had made the same enthusiastic remark from the audience.
After their brief exchange in Melbourne, it was Haydon who later reached out on X with a light-hearted message: “hey, we’re both single”. Their first proper meeting took place over beers at Young Henrys brewery in Newtown. Soon after, Albanese invited her to the Woodford Folk Festival, and their bond deepened rapidly.
During Covid-19 lockdowns, the couple spent extended time together cooking, watching television and sharing music away from public scrutiny. That privacy ended in mid-2020 when they were photographed kissing at Woolloomooloo Wharf.
A turning point and public life
In early 2021, Albanese was seriously injured in a car accident. Speaking later to The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2022, Haydon said the experience made her realise “just how much you love this person”. She recalled jumping into the ambulance and instantly understanding “the depth of my feelings towards him.”
Less than 18 months after they met, Albanese became Prime Minister. Haydon moved into The Lodge and suddenly found herself at the centre of international diplomacy. She attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, later returned for the coronation of King Charles, and was welcomed by Emmanuel Macron at official events.
During one visit to the United States, Jill Biden even lent Haydon a pair of trainers so she could walk more comfortably back to the guesthouse.
On Valentine’s Day in 2024, Albanese proposed on the balcony of The Lodge.
Inside the wedding ceremony
The wedding itself was deeply personal. Haydon walked down the aisle with her parents, Bill and Pauline, to Ben Folds’ song The Luckiest. Her gown was designed by Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born. Albanese wore a suit by MJ Bale.
Their five-year-old niece, Ella, served as flower girl, while Albanese’s dog Toto carried the wedding rings. The couple exchanged handwritten vows, with a celebrant from the NSW Central Coast officiating, as reported by The Guardian.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds walked back up the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours). Their first dance was to Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight.
Political guests and honeymoon plans
Cabinet ministers including Jim Chalmers, Katy Gallagher, Richard Marles and Penny Wong were among those present. Albanese’s son, Nathan, also attended.
The couple are expected to honeymoon within Australia next week, keeping travel plans low-key as the Prime Minister prepares to return swiftly to official duties.
(With inputs from agencies)
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