Australian PM Anthony Albanese announces engagement to partner Jodie Haydon

Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced his engagement to his partner, Jodie Haydon.

Albanese posted a picture of the pair, with Haydon showing off the new ring, on social media on Thursday morning.

“She said yes,” the prime minister wrote.

It is believed that – depending on the timing of the event – this will be the first time an Australian prime minister has got married while in office.

The foreign affairs minister, and Albanese’s longtime ally, Penny Wong, congratulated the two on social media.

“Love is a beautiful thing. I’m so happy for you both!” Wong said in a post on X.

Other Labor colleagues, including the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, and housing minister, Julie Collins, also welcomed the news.

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The two met at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020. Haydon, who lives at the Lodge with Albanese in Canberra and works as women’s officer for the NSW Public Service Association, has joined the prime minister on a number of formal state visits, including a state dinner at the White House with the US president, Joe Biden, and the first lady, Jill Biden.

“I must say, I only have one regret about tonight, which is – I’m not quite sure how I top this for date night with Jodie at any time, anywhere in the future,” Albanese said during the state dinner toast.

“It’s all downhill from here, my darling.”

Albanese was previously married to Carmel Tebbutt, a former NSW deputy premier. They have a 23-year-old son, Nathan.

More to come