In a historic event for Australian politics, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has married his partner Jodie Haydon in a ceremony at The Lodge in Canberra, marking the first time a sitting Australian Prime Minister has married while in office.
A Ceremony at the Heart of Power
The couple exchanged vows on Saturday afternoon at their official Canberra residence, The Lodge, under clear blue skies. The bride, Jodie Haydon, was photographed in a floor-length veil, standing between two men in suits as she prepared to walk down the aisle. Among the guests seen arriving at the lavish venue were Health Minister Mark Butler and his wife, journalist Daniela Ritorto.
The location held profound significance for the couple, as it was on the balcony of The Lodge where Albanese proposed on Valentine's Day 2024 after a romantic dinner at an Italian restaurant. During his first term in office, the Prime Minister meticulously planned the proposal, including helping to design Haydon's custom diamond ring from Cerrone Jewellers in Leichhardt, located in the heart of his electorate.
A Relationship Forged in Shared Passions
The couple's story began in 2020 at a business conference in Melbourne, when Albanese was the opposition leader. He asked the audience if there were any South Sydney NRL fans present, to which Haydon enthusiastically yelled the team's catch cry, 'up the Rabbitohs'. He later introduced himself, and they arranged to go for a drink when back in Sydney, with their first date taking place at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown.
Their relationship was profoundly tested the following year when Albanese was seriously injured in a car crash in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville. Haydon recalled racing to the scene after receiving a call. "I saw the mess of a car before I saw him and thought 'he couldn't survive this'," she said. "It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person. As I jumped in the ambulance and saw Anthony, I knew then the depth of my feelings towards him."
Planning a Private and Intimate Wedding
Ahead of the wedding, the couple dismissed several rumours about their nuptials. A week-long holiday to the remote island of Palau in Micronesia in October, which included a media blackout requested by the PM's office, had sparked speculation that a small ceremony had already taken place. However, the couple had consistently described their dream wedding as 'small, intimate… possibly outdoors' in an interview with Australian Women's Weekly earlier this year.
Albanese also demonstrated his commitment to family by seeking the blessing of his 24-year-old son, Nathan, whom he shares with ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, before proposing. "I respect him and have a good relationship with him, and with his mother," Albanese stated. "So I asked him to think about it... and he was supportive. He wants me to be happy, and Nathan and Jodie have a really nice relationship as well."
Ms Haydon, an executive for Teachers Mutual Bank, has previously spoken of Albanese's support for her high-profile career. The couple have navigated the challenges of public life by comparing the Prime Minister's long hours and frequent travel to the demands faced by shift workers, vowing to always make the most of their time together.
