From Private Messages to Wedding Bells: The Rabbitohs Love Story Behind Australia's 'Royal Wedding

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Like many modern relationships, it started with a slide into DMs on social media.

More than six years after a love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs introduced Anthony Albanese to Jodie Haydon, the pair declared their love for each other in an intimate wedding ceremony at The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday.

Albanese, then opposition leader, was a keynote speaker at a national union conference in Melbourne in 2019 when a quip about the Rabbitohs during his address led him to be introduced to Haydon.

After referencing South Sydney during the speech, Haydon yelled out “up the Rabbitohs”, which would later prompt messages on social media.

In a candid moment with News Corp back in 2022, Haydon recounted how she initiated contact with Albanese, saying, “I slid into his DMs.” What began as a simple message exchange on Twitter soon blossomed into a romance, with their first dates taking place over craft beers at a Newtown brewery in Sydney.

“He had a public profile and I didn’t, so 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’.”

Reflecting on the connection in 2024, Albanese told a Brisbane radio station it was “a very strange way” to meet someone.

“Who would’ve thought that romance could begin there?” he said.

Haydon has since been by Albanese’s side on numerous occasions, including official trips abroad, notably to the United Kingdom.

Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon waving to the press outside UK prime minister's residence

Their relationship took a significant turn following Albanese’s serious car accident in 2021. The incident, as Haydon shared, solidified her feelings for him.

In a romantic gesture, Albanese proposed with a custom-designed ring after a delightful dinner at an Italian restaurant in Braddon, Canberra, marking a new chapter in their journey together.

Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon at a gala event

Albanese was the first prime minister to be engaged while in office, and has become the first to be married while serving in the role. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

“We are thrilled and excited to share this news and look forward to spending the rest of our lives together,” the couple said in a statement.

“We are so lucky to have found each other.”

Albanese was the first prime minister to be engaged while in office, and has become the first to be married while serving in the role.

From the moment the couple were engaged, speculation had swirled about where and when the wedding would take place, as well as what would be involved on the big day.

Albanese said he had been looking to get married in the second half of the year, after the May election, although he said there was consideration of nuptials on the anniversary of their engagement.

“We did think about it, I’ve got to say, on the anniversary, really quietly, just doing it to stop speculation,” Albanese told B105 Brisbane in March.

“But we decided that might get some speculation as well, so we didn’t. [But] I did think about doing it really quietly.”

The couple hadn’t revealed many details about what the wedding would look like, beyond the prime minister’s dog Toto being involved in the ceremony as a possible ring bearer and that it would be on the smaller side.

“It’s going to be a great day in front of family and friends. Pretty small and something that’s about myself and Jodie rather than a big public event,” Albanese told ABC Radio.

After a political honeymoon that has lasted several months following a large election victory in May, Albanese and his wife are about to enjoy a honeymoon of their own.