SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday revealed his Valentine’s Day engagement to girlfriend Jodie Haydon, after “she said yes” to a carefully planned marriage proposal.
The words “Canberra” and “romance” are rarely twinned, but yesterday the centre-left leader one-upped Valentines across Australia, with a morning message that the pair had agreed to wed.
“It is such a joy to be able to share this news with people,” a beaming and slightly bashful Albanese said, after walking hand-in-hand with Haydon from the prime minister’s official residence.
“It’s wonderful that I’ve found a partner who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Albanese, who met Haydon at a Melbourne business dinner in 2020, is believed to be the first Australian prime minister to get engaged while in office.
Haydon gushed thanks to “everybody for such a warm congratulations today, from our friends to our family, from people that we don’t know. It’s just been overwhelming but beautiful”.
Among those wishing the couple well were New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and English celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.
“Love is a beautiful thing. I’m so happy for you both!” Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted.
