CANBERRA — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has married his partner Jodie Haydon, becoming the first sitting leader in the country’s history to wed while in office.

The couple exchanged vows on Saturday afternoon in Canberra, a day after the final parliamentary session of the year.

“We are absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends,” Albanese said in a statement following the ceremony.

The pair became engaged on Valentine’s Day last year. Both the proposal and the wedding reception were held at The Lodge, the prime minister’s official residence.

The event was kept confidential for security reasons and to prevent disruptions.

Family members attended the ceremony, including Haydon’s parents and Albanese’s son from his previous marriage. The prime minister’s dog, Toto, served as ring bearer. The couple walked back down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” as guests showered them in confetti.

A number of cabinet ministers were also present. At the reception, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” and served custom-made beer cans featuring the image used for their engagement announcement.

The couple will spend their honeymoon in Australia next week, with plans scaled back following Albanese’s re-election in May.

Albanese, 62, and Haydon, 47, met at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020, when he was leader of the opposition. Haydon has appeared alongside him throughout the 2022 and 2025 election campaigns and at major international events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and a state dinner hosted by former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Albanese also became the first Australian prime minister to get engaged while in office. In their engagement announcement, the couple said they were “so lucky to have found each other.” — BBC