Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has married his partner, Jodie Haydon, becoming the first sitting prime minister in the nation’s history to wed while in office.
The couple exchanged vows on Saturday afternoon at The Lodge, the PM’s official residence in Canberra, just one day after parliament concluded its final sitting for the year, according to the BBC.
In a brief statement, Albanese said they were “absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends.”
The ceremony was kept confidential due to security protocols and was attended only by close relatives and a select group of senior cabinet ministers. Haydon’s parents and Albanese’s son, Nathan, were among those present.
In a charming highlight of the event, the prime minister’s beloved dog, Toto, served as ring bearer. The newlyweds walked back up the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s iconic hit, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” with Albanese later sharing a video of the confetti-filled moment.
At the reception, guests watched the couple share their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”Attendees were also treated to custom-made beer cans featuring the same photo used when the couple announced their engagement.
Albanese, 62, and Haydon, 47, got engaged on Valentine’s Day last year. Their relationship began after meeting at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020, when Albanese was still serving as opposition leader.
The newlyweds will honeymoon within Australia from Monday to Friday next week — a shortened getaway due to the prime minister’s re-election commitments.
