Australian Prime Minister Albanese becomes first to marry in office

Watch: The bride and groom are applauded and showered with confetti

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has married his partner Jodie Haydon, becoming the country’s first leader to marry while in office.

The couple married in the capital, Canberra, on Saturday afternoon local time, the day after the final session of the parliamentary year.

“We are absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our closest family and friends,” Albanese said in a brief statement.

The couple got engaged on Valentine’s Day last year. The Labor leader’s proposal and wedding reception took place at his official residence, The Lodge.

Reuters Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Along With His Son Nathan And His Dog, Ring Bearer Toto, All Look Towards The Camera.

Until the big day, wedding plans were kept under wraps due to concerns about safety and potential disruptions.

In attendance were Ms Haydon’s parents and Albanese’s son from his previous marriage.

Albanese’s dog, Toto, served as ring bearer as the couple walked back down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).”

The Prime Minister also shared a video on his official social media accounts showing the happy couple walking down the aisle as guests showered them with confetti.

The ceremony was attended by several ministers from Albanese’s cabinet.

Reuters A Close-Up Image Of Two Custom-Made Beer Cans Featuring Images Of Albanese And Jodie Haydon.

At the reception, their first dance was to Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight.

The celebrations also included personalized beer cans printed with the image used to announce their engagement.

The couple plans to spend their honeymoon in Australia on Monday and Friday of next week, plans that were interrupted after his re-election in May.

Albanese, 62, and Haydon, 47, first met at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020, when the former was leader of the opposition.

Haydon appeared during Albanese’s 2022 and 2025 election campaigns, and was seen alongside the prime minister at major events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and a state dinner hosted by former US president Joe Biden.

Albanese also made Australian history by becoming the first prime minister to get engaged while in office.

The couple said in a joint statement that they were “very lucky to have found each other.”