Australia’s Prime Minister who created history

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has created history by becoming the first ever sitting Prime Minister in 124 years to get married while in office. Albanese tied the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon in a private and intimate ceremony held on Saturday at The Lodge, the PM’s official residence in Canberra.

The ceremony, attended by around 60 close friends and cabinet colleagues, remained completely private until after it concluded. A civil celebrant officiated the wedding, and the couple exchanged personally written vows. Their pet dog Toto acted as the ring bearer, while Haydon’s niece Ella participated as the flower girl.

Albanese, 62, proposed to Haydon, 46, on Valentine’s Day last year. Although a grand wedding was initially considered, political strategists advised against it due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The couple chose to postpone the wedding until after the national elections to avoid public criticism.

Jodie Haydon, who works in finance, first met Albanese at a business event in Melbourne in 2020. Their relationship soon grew closer and became public in 2022. The wedding took place just two days after the Australian Parliament wrapped up its final session for the year.