Antony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, has made headlines once again, this time for tying the knot with his partner, Jodie Haydon. The couple exchanged vows on Saturday, marking a historic moment as Albanese became the first sitting prime minister to marry while in office. The intimate ceremony took place at The Lodge in Canberra, surrounded by family and close friends.
The wedding, attended by approximately 60 guests, included notable figures from the Labor Party such as Treasurer Jim Chalmers and fellow ministers Tim Ayres, Tony Burke, Katy Gallagher, Penny Wong, Mark Butler, Richard Marles, Penny Sharpe, and Jo Haylen. Notably absent were any world leaders, keeping the focus on the couple’s personal celebration.
Haydon arrived at the ceremony wearing an elegant long-sleeved white dress adorned with floral motifs by Sydney designer Romance was Born. The couple’s dog, Toto, had the special role of ring bearer, while Haydon’s five-year-old niece, Ella, acted as the flower girl. The couple exchanged self-written vows as the song “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds played in the background.
After the ceremony concluded around 16:30 AEDT, the newlyweds walked down the aisle to the celebratory sound of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” prompting cheers from the guests. Following the wedding, attendees enjoyed beverages from a locally brewed beer by Willie the Boatman, which is produced in Albanese’s Sydney electorate.
Albanese and Haydon shared their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s classic “The Way You Look Tonight,” cementing the romance of the occasion. The couple expressed their joy in a statement, saying, “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 wedding garnered well wishes from political opponents as well. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley offered her congratulations, stating, “I wish them every happiness as they continue building their lives together.”
In a personal touch, Albanese proposed to Haydon at The Lodge on Valentine’s Day in 2024, presenting her with a ring he had helped design. The couple first met in 2019 at a business dinner in Melbourne, and they recently purchased a cliff-top home overlooking Copacabana Beach for $4.3 million.
Prior to his relationship with Haydon, Albanese was married to Carmel Tebbutt, with whom he shares a son, Nathan, born in 2000. The couple separated in early 2019 after 19 years of marriage.
Albanese and Haydon will embark on a five-day honeymoon in Australia starting Monday, celebrating this new chapter in their lives.
