Jodie Haydon, the lover of Anthony Albanese, has replaced Jenny Morrison as the National Portrait Gallery’s chief patron.
When the PM released his register of interests this week, Ms. Haydon’s appointment—which is a customary honour for prime ministerial spouses—was made public.
Before being changed on Thursday morning, the National Portrait Gallery’s website still listed Jenny Morrison as the incumbent.
Since Mr. Albanese was elected to government, his partner has been a prominent figure.
Just 11 weeks into the job, Ms. Haydon and Mr. Albanese were seen having a good time while on vacation in Broome.
Before the pair had a special dinner at a posh oyster bar, he was seen kayaking and appreciating art.
The seafood restaurant posted a picture of Mr. Albanese standing next to staff members on their Facebook page and wrote about their “pleasurable” experience hosting him.
The vacation followed Ms. Haydon’s July disclosure of the precise moment she realised she was in love with Mr. Albanese.
She claimed that when she learned that he had been involved in a serious car accident, she knew she was in love.
In her first television interview, she broke her silence thanks to Mr. Albanese’s “secret weapon” and opened up about her two-year relationship with the Prime Minister as well as the lasting impression Emmanuel Macron and his wife made on her during a recent meeting.
When the financial advisor’s car was destroyed by a Range Rover driven by a P-plater metres from the then-opposition leader’s home in Sydney’s inner-west in January 2021, they had only been dating for about a year.
NEW LIFE FOR JODIE HAYDON AFTER ALBO WON THE ELECTION
Since Anthony Albanese’s election victory, Jodie Haydon has never left his side.
She travelled with the prime minister on a recent trip to Europe, where she became fast friends with Brigitte Macron, the spouse of the French president.
The two initially met in Madrid while their partners were at the NATO Summit, and then they reconnected in Paris a few days later.
Pictures from the gathering showed the couples laughing and hugging one other.
In addition, Ms. Haydon travelled with her lover to Dubai and joined him on stage with Gang of Youths on Monday night in Sydney.
She has now assumed her professional position as the PM’s companion and honorary chief patron of the National Portrait Gallery.
As the women’s officer for the NSW Public Service Association, Ms. Haydon is still employed in her previous position.
Since Mr. Albanese’s victory, she has made a few additional adjustments to her life, including ceasing to post on social media.
Mr. Albanese was taken by ambulance to the hospital with serious wounds.
“This can’t end good,” Ms. Haydon recalled thinking at the moment she arrived at the scene of the collision and saw the automobile before she saw Anthony.
And the crippling worry, “What if I lose him?,” I suddenly realised that I do, in fact, love him. And I really adore him.
Mr. Albanese spoke openly about the collision.
“I believed it to be it.” That’s how it ended; while it appeared to take a while, it only took a few seconds. However, I believed that was all,” he remembered.
He was also shown the accident as remembered by his companion.
He said, “She is an excellent lady.
“Yes, I am really fortunate,” he said when asked whether it was love.
Ms. Haydon has embraced her new position as unofficial First Lady of Australia. She travelled to Europe with Mr. Albanese recently and developed an immediate friendship with Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president.
The two first met in Madrid when their spouses were at the NATO Summit, and then they reconnected in Paris a few days later.
I had the good fortune to meet her a few days earlier when we were both in Madrid, and from the time we first spoke, she was kind and welcoming and grasped my hand and said, “So great to meet you.” I immediately felt at ease with her,” Ms. Haydon said.
Two days later, when the two spouses reconnected in Paris, President Macron is renowned for taking her hand.
It is distinctly French. I may need to talk to Anthony about why he shouldn’t do it! Both of them were great,” Ms. Haydon said.