French ambassador Brendan Berne proposes to his partner

Australia’s ambassador to France used the long awaited same-sex marriage bill to propose marriage, on camera, to his partner of 11 years.

Brendan Berne talks to the camera before proposing to his partner.

Love is in the air in Paris, as Australia’s ambassador to France used Australia’s long awaited same-sex marriage bill to propose marriage to his partner. And ambassador Brendan Berne didn’t have long to wait, with his very surprised partner of 11 years Thomas Marti, standing to give Mr Berne a hug with a simple and quiet answer: yes. The happy couple celebrated their news with Facebook and Twitter posts saying ‘’He said Yes!’’ .

Mr Berne, who has only been in the position since October, initially stood on the balcony of Australia’s embassy, with the Eiffel Tower in the background explaining in French, what he was about to do, before finding Mr Marti in the study. The surprise moment came just hours after parliament passed legislation for same sex marriages from next year.

Brendan Berne and partner Thomas Marti hug after Thomas accepts the proposal.

Mr Berne, a long serving official in the department of Foreign Affairs and a former staffer for trade minister Steven Ciobo, said the developments in Canberra had been a “great day for my country … but also for me on a personal level.’’

He said in the video: ‘’Now as Australia celebrates marriage equality, it is my turn now, my turn to ratify my own relationship. He is not aware of what I would like to do now. Now it is only a question for me to pop the question.’’

Today was a great day for Australia and for me. HE SAID YES! #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/liaXiw0FYh

— Brendan Berne (@AusAmbFR) December 7, 2017

Mr Berne then walks to the study, steadying himself with a quiet word to himself: “Deep breath,’’ and knocks on the door.

”As parliament has just approved the bill on same sex marriage’’ Mr Berne tells Mr Marti, before steadying himself and saying “sorry, I am a bit nervous’’

He then says: "I would like to ask you a question, would you give me the pleasure of marrying me?’’ Mr Berne then looks to the camera and says, “I hope I asked the right question’’ and Mr Marti whispers yes.

Mr Berne is not the first gay Australian ambassador: the former high commissioner to the United Kingdom John Dauth has been in a long-term relationship with his partner Richard, and the former ambassador to France, Stephen Brady has also been in a long relationship with his partner, Peter Stephens.

The newly engaged couple received hearty congratulations from diplomatic posts around the world.