Australian Prime Minister married his partner Jodie Haydon in a secretive and intimate ceremony on November 29. Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe and several cabinet ministers attended the ceremony. Photo: X |@AlboMP
PM Modi wishes 'happy married life' to Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Jodi Haydon
Albanese became the first prime minister to marry while in office in the 124-year history of the federal government in Australia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (November 30) congratulated Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodi Haydon on their wedding, which took place at Albanese's official residence in Canberra.
"Congratulations to my good friend, PM Anthony Albanese and Ms Jodie Haydon on their wedding. Wishing them a happy married life," Modi said in a post on X, responding to a post by Albanese.
Albanese became the first prime minister to marry while in office in the 124-year history of the federal government in Australia.
Intimate ceremony
Australian Prime Minister married his partner Jodie Haydon in a secretive and intimate ceremony on Saturday
The couple were married by a civil celebrant before around 60 guests, including Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe and several cabinet ministers, in an afternoon ceremony on the grounds of The Lodge. There was no media reporting of the event until after it had occurred.
“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 statement.
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The pair wrote their own vows, and their dog Toto was the ring bearer. Haydon's 5-year-old niece, Ella, was the flower girl, the statement said.
No lavish wedding
Albanese, 62, who is divorced with an adult son, proposed to Haydon, 46, at The Lodge on Valentine's Day last year. They initially planned a larger-scale wedding before the last election was scheduled to be held in May this year. Albanese had told a Sydney radio programme he was considering inviting former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he considered a personal friend.
But the ruling centre-left Labour Party strategists feared a lavish wedding during a cost-of-living crisis could hurt the government's chances of being re-elected for a second three-year term.
A decision was made to delay the wedding until after the election. Albanese had said the wedding would take place in 2025, but did not reveal a date. The wedding came two days after Parliament ended for the year on Thursday.
Haydon, who works in finance, met Albanese at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020.