Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces engagement to Jodie Haydon

As punters flocked to book the “Albanese table” at the Canberra restaurant where the PM and Jodie Haydon dined before he popped the question, Albo shared how it unfolded, and Jodie shared a sneak peek at the ring.

Anthony Albanese has proposed to his partner Jodie Haydon. He announced it on social media with a caption saying "She said yes️".

And here’s the rock.

As Australians on Thursday flocked to book the “Albanese table” at the restaurant Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dined at with his now-fiance Jodie Haydon shortly before he proposed on Valentine’s Day, the couple newly engaged couple posed for pictures at the Lodge, while Jodie showed off the ring.

Congratulations flowed from all over the country after Mr Albanese announced the news on Thursday with a picture of the pair captioned “she said yes”.

“It is such a joy to be able to share this news with people and it’s wonderful I found a partner who I want to spend the rest of my life with,” he said.

Mr Albanese revealed he proposed on a balcony of the prime minister’s Canberra residence, The Lodge, with a gold and diamond ring he had specially designed.

Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese are engaged. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Haydon later described the “warm congratulations” from both loved ones and strangers as “overwhelming”.

“A lot of planning and thought went into everything from the date, obviously Valentines Day, and the ring that I helped to design, to where to do it,” Mr Albanese said.

Asked about wedding plans, Ms Haydon joked the pair had only been engaged for 24 hours, and Mr Albanese said details would be decided in “discussions between ourselves”.

Prior to the balcony proposal, Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon dined at Italian and Sons, etching the popular Canberra restaurant into Australian political history.

Patrons at Italian and Sons, Pizzeria and Wine Bar in Canberra. Picture: VisitCanberra

ALBO TABLE IN DEMAND

In an exclusive interview, co-owner and chef Pasquale Trimboli revealed he had received a flood of requests to book the “Albanese table” at his restaurant after news of the engagement broke.

Mr Trimboli said he detected Mr Albanese had “a lot of things on his mind” when the pair briefly spoke and shared a limoncello drink the evening the PM would later go on to propose to Ms Haydon.

Chef Pasquale Trimboli, restaurateur of the Italian eatery where the PM and his now-fiancee dines ahead of his Valentine’s Day proposal. Picture: Supplied

“He was almost sort of in between you could say an excitable and a kind of pensive attitude,” Mr Trimboli said.

“It was a very quick dinner, so he obviously had a lot of things on his mind.”

Mr Trimboli said the restaurant would “most definitely” be happy to host Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon for an anniversary dinner every year.

“We’ve had a number of people ringing up already wanting that table,” he said.

Mr Trimboli also revealed the restaurant prepared a special menu for the loved up couple to choose from, and ensure they had the privacy of the wine bar at the back of the venue where there is also an entrance.

Anthony Albanese helped design the gold and diamond engagement ring for Jodie Haydon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese was in a happy mood during parliament on Thursday, saying during a debate on Labor’s stage three tax cuts changes it was a “great day on so many levels”.

After ending 2023 in the political doldrums, Labor took a big gamble breaking its promise on the tax package and are hoping to be rewarded by the electorate for granting cuts to low and Middle Australia at the expense of higher earners.

With wedding bells now ringing, the PM appeared further revitalised on the floor of parliament.

Griffith University associate professor Paul Williams said the PM’s wedding didn’t have to be “discreet,” but it should appear “modest” and he must make it clear that “not one cent” of government money is spent on celebrations.

The happy couple thanked Australians for their well wishes. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Prof Williams said celebrations should occur on private property, advising Mr Albanese to “steer away” from Kirribilli House or the Lodge.

“Photo splashes in magazines, celebrations that’s all fine, as long as it doesn’t look like he’s in a millionaires’ bubble,” he said.

Prof Williams said if there was any positive political impact of Mr Albanese’s nuptials it would likely be fleeting.

“Unless there’s a scandal over using public money, I can’t see any real downside, it does humanise a prime minister at a time his stocks had declined,” he said.

“I think most fair-minded Australians would think ‘good on them, I hope they find happiness’ and then go on thinking about other things. They won’t vote on this.”

Jodie Haydon and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese look on during the Men's Singles Final match during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park this year. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese has proposed to his partner Jodie Haydon.

The happy couple are yet to set a date, but if the wedding occurs while Mr Albanese is in government he will become the first Australian prime minister to get married while in office.

Given the pair bonded over a mutual love of their local community in Sydney’s inner west, vendors in the Prime Minister’s electorate of Grayndler are the most likely candidates for pulling together the historic event.

Favourite local haunts, such as the Marrickville bowling or tennis clubs, would suit the style of the laid-back PM.

Since being thrust into the public eye, Ms Haydon has made a point of supporting Australian fashion, a tradition she would likely continue for her big day.

Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese at the White House with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

She’s previously opted for custom-made pieces and designer outfits by homegrown labels like Carla Zampatti and Karen Gee, while at the US State Dinner at the White House last year Ms Haydon wore a silver ball gown by South Australian label Paolo Sebastian.

Mr Albanese has already joked the pair’s “date night” at the White House might be tough to top for glitz and glamour, but their wedding could come close.

Star guests at the historic event could include Mr Albanese’s good friends actor Russell Crowe and radio host Kyle Sandilands, along with former prime ministers and other high profile politicians.

Mr Albanese’s colleagues shared congratulations following his announcement, with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong saying “love is a beautiful thing, I’m so happy for you both!”

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said it was “fantastic news,” while Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said Ms Haydon was a “wonderful person” and described the PM as a “very lucky man”.

The pair also received well-wishes from New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

“Congratulations Anthony, very happy for you and Jodie,” he said.

ALBO AND JODIE: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon met at an event in Melbourne in late 2019, about a year after the PM had separated from his former wife Carmell Tebutt with whom he has a 23-year-old son, Nathan.

Mr Albanese was the keynote speaker at a national union conference that Ms Haydon was attending through her work as strategic partnerships manager of industry superannuation fund First State Super.

When Mr Albanese referenced his love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Ms Haydon yelled from the crowd, “up the Rabbitohs”.

The Labor leader then introduced himself to Ms Haydon and the pair went their separate ways.

Jodie Haydon revealed she slid into Anthony Albanese’s DMs after the pair met at a work function. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

It could have ended there, but in true modern relationship style, Ms Haydon later revealed she “slid into his DMs”.

“I knew that we both followed the same footy team, we both had a love for the inner west and I think I said in that direct message ‘hey, we’re both single’.”

The pair started bonding over mutual interests: living in the same electorate, a love of music, and their support of the Rabbitohs.

They quietly started dating in late 2019, spending the early days of the first Covid lockdown getting to know each other away from public scrutiny.

They cooked together, binged television shows and introduced each other to their respective music tastes.

Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese Australia arrive at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra in January 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Several years later Ms Haydon described this early period in the relationship as being “in a bit of a bubble”.

“We were going under the radar and I cherished that time, and I think we needed that to build the foundation of a relationship,” she said in 2022.

“It wasn’t until we were photographed that I realised, yeah, this is going to be different.”

The private bubble burst in June 2020 when the pair were pictured after a dinner date at China Doll restaurant at Woolloomooloo.

Ms Haydon made a handful of appearances with Mr Albanese during the 2022 election campaign, and has since become a staple at his side at both local community events and on the world stage.

The pair appeared together at King Charles’ coronation in the UK, and at a range of global leaders’ summits from Spain to Indonesia.

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Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces engagement to Jodie Haydon