Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tied the knot with his partner Jodie Haydon on Saturday. At 62 years old, Albanese has made history as the first Australian Prime Minister to marry while serving in office. The wedding ceremony took place at the Prime Minister's office in Canberra. Jodie Haydon, 46, works in financial services.
Engagement and Wedding Ceremony
Prime Minister Albanese had announced his engagement to Jodie Haydon in February 2024. Following the wedding, the Prime Minister shared the joyous news on social media with a simple post: 'Married. ' He also shared a video, which shows him wearing a bow-tie and holding the hand of his smiling bride, while the occasion was a significant and memorable moment for the couple.
Honeymoon Plans and Personal Expenses
After their wedding, Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon will spend their honeymoon in Australia from Monday to Friday. The Prime Minister has clarified that the entire cost of their honeymoon will be borne from their personal funds, and no government assistance will be utilized. This decision underscores his commitment to transparency and personal responsibility.
Albanese's Second Marriage
This marks Anthony Albanese's second marriage. He divorced his former wife, Carmel Tebbutt, in 2019 after a 19-year marriage, from which they've a son named Nathan, while albanese and Haydon first met in 2020 at a business dinner in Melbourne. This is also Jodie Haydon's second marriage, although details regarding her first marriage and divorce aren't publicly available.
Albanese's Early Life and Family Background
Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Labor Party, is affectionately known as 'Albo' by his peers. Born on March 2, 1963, in Camperdown, Australia, into a conservative Catholic family, Anthony grew up with only his mother, Marion, by his side, his father being absent. When he inquired about his father, he was told that his mother had met his father during an overseas trip, married him, and that his father had died in a car accident upon her return to Australia. He grew up believing this narrative.
The Truth Revealed by His Mother
When Anthony was 14, his mother sat him down one evening after dinner and revealed the true story, while she confessed that they had never actually married. She had met a man in Italy, developed a relationship, and became pregnant. Anthony's father, Carlo, was a cruise ship manager. In 1962, during an overseas trip, he met Marion. They fell in love, but Carlo was already engaged to another woman and couldn't break off his previous commitment due to fear of his family and society. Marion fabricated a story of marriage, wore an engagement ring, and after traveling through Asia and Britain for seven months, returned to Sydney, four months pregnant. She concealed the truth to prevent her son, Anthony, from being stigmatized as illegitimate, while the entire family believed this fabricated story for the next 15 years.
The Search for His Father
Out of respect for his mother's feelings, Albanese never attempted to find his father while she was alive. After her passing in 2002, the search began. One day, his young son, Nathan, asked him, “Where is your father? ”, prompting Albanese to realize the importance of uncovering the truth, not just for himself but for his son as well. Anthony had only one clue: an old photograph showing his father on the ship where he had met his mother. Using this photograph, he tried to extract information from the cruise company. After days of searching, he found maritime historian Rob Henderson, who helped him. Locate a warehouse where his father's name and address were recorded in a box. When Anthony received the call that his father had been found, he was momentarily in disbelief. He then traveled to Italy to meet his father. Anthony's father passed away from cancer in January 2014.
Beginning of Political Career
Anthony Albanese embarked on his political journey at the young age of 12. Anthony and his mother lived in rented government housing. The local council had increased the rent for these government homes. People were unwilling to pay the increased rent, but no one was willing to step forward to protest. The council was planning to sell all the properties, while at that time, Anthony spearheaded a movement against the council's decision, and eventually, the council had to cancel its plans. By the age of 22, he had joined the Labor Party. In 1996, he was first elected as a Federal Member of Parliament (MP). After the Labor Party's defeat in 2013, Albanese became Deputy Leader and then Leader of the Opposition. After serving as Opposition Leader for 10 years, he won the election in 2022, defeating Scott Morrison, and became Prime Minister. In 2025, he won the Prime Minister election for the second time.
