Sydney (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, married his partner Jodie Haydon in Canberra during a private ceremony, becoming the first Australian leader to marry while in office.
As reported by The Guardian, the ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon at Albanese’s official residence, the Lodge, with only close family and friends present, including Albanese’s son, Nathan, and Haydon’s parents, Bill and Pauline.
“We are absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends,”
Albanese and Haydon said in a statement.
Following the ceremony, the couple strolled down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).’Next week, they will honeymoon in Australia.
Reports indicate that the Labour leader’s office is strictly guarding the wedding details. The couple is covering the expenses privately. This occurs after the last sitting day of the Australian parliament for 2025 on Friday, and six months after Albanese’s decisive re-election victory.
Who attended the prime minister’s intimate Canberra wedding?
Guests included Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his wife, Laura, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson. Also present was the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Tim Gartrell.
How did the couple first meet in Melbourne?
The wedding was expected to occur this year following Albanese’s proposal to Haydon on Valentine’s Day last year, but the specifics and date of the ceremony remained closely guarded.
The couple initially met at a public event in Melbourne over five years ago. Albanese proposed to Haydon on the balcony at the Lodge on Valentine’s Day in February 2024, following a dinner at a well-known Canberra restaurant. He custom-made an engagement ring for the special moment.
Haydon has frequently joined Albanese at public events, during official international trips, and throughout election campaigns.
How have other sitting world leaders married while in office?
A few heads of state in Europe have also gotten married while in office. For instance, in a civil ceremony held at Luxembourg City Hall on May 15, 2015, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg married his partner Gauthier Destenay, making history as the first EU leader to marry a same-sex partner while in office. The
On June 27, 2010, the day same-sex marriage became legal, Iceland’s Prime Minister Šhanna Sigurðardóttir became the first openly gay head of state in history by converting her registered partnership with Jónló Leósdóttir into a marriage.
