SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday revealed his Valentine`s Day engagement to girlfriend Jodie Haydon, after `she said yes` to a carefully planned marriage proposal.

The words `Canberra` and `romance` are rarely twinned, but on Thursday the centre-left leader one-upped Valentines across Australia, with a morning message that the pair had agreed to wed.

`It is such a joy to be able to share this news with people,` a beaming and slightly bashful Albanese said, after walking hand-in-hand with Haydon from the prime minister`s official residence.

`It`s wonderful that I`ve found a partner who I want to spend the rest of my life with.` Albanese, who met Haydon at a Melbourne business dinner in 2020, is believed to be the first Australian primeminister to get engaged while in office.

Haydon gushed thanks to `everybody for such a warm congratulations today, from our friends to our family, from people that we don`t know. It`s just been overwhelming but beautiful.` Among those wishing the couple well were New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and English celebrity chef Nigella Lawson. `Love is a beautiful thing. Pm so happy for you both!` Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted.

Albanese revealed that `a lot of planning and thought went into everything, from the date obviously Valentine`s Day, and the ring that I helped to design.` A smattering of online critics strained to allege Albanese was distracting from pressing political issues, from the war in Gaza to the legal case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.-AFP