Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese married his partner Jodie Haydon in a private ceremony at his official residence on Saturday. He became the first sitting Australian leader to tie the knot in the nation’s 124-year federal history.The ceremony took place at The Lodge in Canberra, just two days after the Australian Parliament was adjourned for the year. Around 60 close family and friends attended, including family members and cabinet ministers. The couple exchanged personal vows in a civil wedding, with their dog Toto serving as the ring bearer and Haydon’s five-year-old niece as the flower girl.
Jodie Haydon’s niece with their dog Toto (AFP image)
“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 couple said in a joint statement.Albanese and Haydon first met at a business event in Melbourne in 2020 and have since appeared together at public and official engagements, news agency AP reported. Their relationship grew during the Covid-19 pandemic and Haydon has since regularly accompanied the prime minister at key official and overseas engagements. She works in finance and previously served in the superannuation sector; she has also taken on a public role as chief patron of the National Portrait Gallery, according to The Guardian.
AP image
Albanese was previously married for nearly two decades to former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt. The two share their son, Nathan.The wedding took place under increased security after recent arrests involving threats to the prime minister’s safety. Albanese recently told Parliament that federal police had expanded their security arrangements around him and his residence.
