Australian PM Anthony Albanese, 62, marries Jodie Haydon — watch the wedding video

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese married Jodie Hayden on Saturday afternoon, a marriage he confirmed in a social media post. The couple had been in a relationship for several years.

The announcement also marked another historic milestone—the first time a sitting Australian Prime Minister has married while in office. The couple first met at a public event in Melbourne five years ago. The private ceremony took place at The Lodge, the Australian Prime Minister's residence. Albanese wrote, "Married!" with an X-ring emoji.

According to local media reports, the wedding was attended only by family and a few close friends, including Albanese's son Nathan and Hayden's parents, Bill and Pauline. The couple released a joint statement after the wedding, saying, "We are delighted to be able to spend the rest of our lives together, surrounded by our family and close friends." The couple was married by a celebrant from the NSW Central Coast and wrote their own vows. Hayden was led down the aisle by her parents to the Ben Folds song "The Luckiest."

As per tradition, Hayden's five-year-old niece, Ella, arrived with flowers, while the Prime Minister's pet, Toto, carried the ring to the wedding venue, ABC.net.au reported. Albanese proposed to Hayden on Valentine's Day in February 2024 on the lodge's balcony, following dinner at a prominent Canberra restaurant. He had a special ring designed for the occasion.

Hayden has regularly appeared with Prime Minister Albanese. Albanese separated from his ex-wife, former New South Wales Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt, in 2019 after nearly two decades of marriage. Hayden works for the NSW Public Service Association and previously worked in the superannuation sector.