62-Year-Old Australian Prime Minister Albanese Marries 16-Years-Younger Partner in Private Ceremony at Official Residence

First Prime Ministerial Wedding in 124 Years
Private Ceremony Attended Only by Family and Close Friends

Anthony Albanese (62), the Prime Minister of Australia, married his long-time partner Jodi Hayden (46). This is the first time in the 124-year history of the Australian federal government that a sitting prime minister has held a wedding while in office.

On the 29th (local time), Anthony Albanese (62), the Prime Minister of Australia, married his long-time partner Jodi Hayden (46). Photo by Albanese Prime Minister Instagram

According to Australian media outlet 9News on the 29th (local time), Prime Minister Albanese married Hayden at the official residence in Canberra, the capital of Australia. After the ceremony, Prime Minister Albanese released a statement saying, "I am very happy to promise a future together with our love in front of our family and closest friends."

Hayden wore a dress by the Australian brand Romance Was Born, while Prime Minister Albanese wore a suit by MJ Bale. Hayden's niece Ella (5) served as the flower girl, and Prime Minister Albanese's dog Toto was in charge of delivering the rings.

The couple plans to spend a brief honeymoon in Australia.

They first met at a business event in 2019 and bonded over their shared support for the Australian rugby team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Hayden also accompanied Prime Minister Albanese during the election campaigns in 2022 and 2025.

On Valentine's Day (February 14) last year, Prime Minister Albanese proposed to Hayden, becoming the first Australian prime minister to get engaged while in office.

Due to heightened concerns about political violence during the wedding preparations, most of the process was kept private. Only about 60 guests, including family and close friends, attended the ceremony. In August, Prime Minister Albanese explained, "We will keep it small without inviting international dignitaries," emphasizing that "it is a personal wedding, not a political event."

He previously stated, "Someday my time as prime minister will end, but what we enjoy most is spending time together," sharing his reason for deciding to marry Hayden.

Prime Minister Albanese was previously married to Carmel Tebbutt (61), a political colleague and former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, in 2000, but they separated in 2019. They have a son, Nathan, who is in his twenties. Before proposing, Prime Minister Albanese discussed it with Nathan, who is known to have supported his father's decision.