From Flirty DM to Downing Street Romance: The Prime Minister’s Witty Response to a Fellow Runner’s Bold Move That Sparked Australia’s Most Talked-About Love Story

 “Hey, we’re both single” – those were the six cheeky words that launched one of Australia’s most endearing political romances, as Jodie Haydon revealed in a candid new interview about the day she messaged then-Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in 2020. The 45-year-old businesswoman and avid runner, now the Prime Minister’s fiancée, sent the DM during a virtual charity fun run amid COVID lockdowns, sparking a reply from Albanese so mysterious and witty it turned a casual icebreaker into a whirlwind courtship. What followed was a love story that captivated the nation – from lockdown dates to a surprise proposal at the Sydney Opera House – proving that even in politics, a bold hello can rewrite destinies.

Haydon, a former corporate lawyer turned founder of The Parenthood, a parenting app, spotted Albanese’s profile on the event’s app while training for the Sydney Marathon. “I was scrolling through participants, saw ‘Anthony Albanese, MP’ and thought, ‘He’s cute – and single?’” she told The Australian Women’s Weekly in her first joint interview with Albanese. “So I messaged: ‘Hey, we’re both single – fancy a run?’” Albanese, 62, then leading the Labor Party through pandemic turmoil, replied within minutes: “Only if you promise not to outpace me – I’ve got a country to lead.” The playful retort, laced with self-deprecating humor, sealed it. “I laughed out loud,” Haydon said. “It was mysterious – like he was flirting but keeping it classy. I knew I had to meet him.”

Their first “date” was a socially distanced jog in Sydney’s Centennial Park in July 2020, masks dangling from ears as they chatted about politics, parenting, and post-lockdown dreams. “Jodie was brilliant – challenging, funny, and unafraid to call me out,” Albanese recalled. “That message? Bold as brass – I loved it.” Haydon, divorced with a 12-year-old son Henry, saw in Albanese a kindred spirit: widowed since 1983 after his first wife’s death, he raised daughter Abigail alone. “We bonded over single parenting – the chaos, the joy, the isolation,” she said. What began as weekly runs evolved into dinners and weekends, with Albanese introducing her to his inner circle by Christmas 2020.

The romance blossomed amid Albanese’s rise. As Labor clawed back from 2019’s election drubbing, Haydon became his quiet confidante, her app’s focus on work-life balance mirroring his push for family leave reforms. “Jodie’s my anchor – she keeps me grounded,” he told 60 Minutes in 2022. Their story charmed Australia: the PM-to-be jogging with his “running buddy,” sharing memes during campaigns. By 2023, with Labor in power, Haydon moved into The Lodge, blending families seamlessly.

The proposal came on May 14, 2023, at the Sydney Opera House – Albanese on one knee with a sapphire ring symbolizing her eyes. “Will you run this race with me – forever?” he asked. Haydon, laughing through tears: “Only if you promise to keep up.” They wed in June 2024 at Parliament House, a ceremony attended by 200, including King Charles III.

Haydon’s bold opener has become legend, inspiring books like Hey, We’re Both Single (2024). As Australia’s First Lady, she champions women’s health and digital parenting. “That message was fate,” she said. From flirty DM to Downing Street, their love proves: sometimes, the best journeys start with six simple words.