Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to marry while in office, tying the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon in a private ceremony at his official residence, the Lodge, in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
The couple exchanged vows in front of a small group of close family and friends, including Albanese's son Nathan and Haydon's parents Bill and Pauline. They were married by a celebrant from the NSW Central Coast and wrote their own vows, with Haydon walking down the aisle to the Ben Folds song 'The Luckiest'.
Haydon wore a dress by Sydney designer Romance was Born, while the prime minister wore a suit from MJ Bale. Their wedding rings came from Cerrone Jewellers in Leichhardt, Sydney. The couple's dog Toto served as ring bearer, and Haydon's five-year-old niece Ella was the flower girl.
Among the guests at the reception were Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, ALP national secretary Paul Erickson, and the prime minister's chief of staff Tim Gartrell. The couple's first dance was to Frank Sinatra's 'The Way You Look Tonight'.
Albanese proposed to Haydon on the balcony of the Lodge on Valentine's Day in 2024, after they met at a public function in Melbourne more than five years ago. Haydon works for the NSW Public Service Association and has often accompanied Albanese at public events. The prime minister split from his former wife Carmel Tebbutt in 2019.
The wedding took place after the final sitting day of parliament for 2025 and six months after Albanese's landslide re-election. All costs were paid privately by the couple.
