He destroyed their marriage and she publicly called out his ‘appalling behaviour’ but today Barnaby Joyce and his estranged wife Natalie have embraced in grief.
The warring Joyces came together and hugged at the Sydney funeral of the former deputy prime minister’s brother Tim, in front of the couple’s daughters.
The pair put aside more than a year’s animosity to present a united front, just hours after Mrs Joyce unloaded on her cheating spouse in a magazine interview.
It was also the first time the pair had been seen together since Mr Joyce announced their separation last December.
Mr Joyce’s young mistress Vikki Campion, the mother of his newborn baby Sebastian, did not attend.
Mr and Mrs Joyce hugged on the steps of St Mary’s Catholic Church at North Sydney after the politician embraced his daughters Odette and Bridgette.
The former deputy prime minister hugs his estranged wife Natalie outside St Mary’s Catholic Church at North Sydney on Thursday; the couple’s daughter Bridgette stands nearby
Barnaby Joyce (right) and estranged wife Natalie (far left) have embraced outside the funeral for his younger brother Tim, who died last weekend
Natalie and Barnaby Joyce outside St Mary’s Catholic Church at North Sydney on Thursday; the couple had not been seen together since Mr Joyce announced their separation last year
The Joyces put aside more than a year of animosity to farewell Barnaby’s brother Tim. An interview in which Mrs Joyce slammed her estranged husband was published on Thursday
The former deputy prime minister’s younger mistress Vikki Campion (left), the mother of their newborn baby Sebastian (pictured), did not attend the funeral
In an interviewed published earlier on Thursday Mrs Joyce had responded at length for the first time to her husband’s relationship with Ms Campion, his former staffer.
The 48-year-old told The Australian Women’s Weekly she confronted Ms Campion in Tamworth in March last year, calling her a ‘home-wrecking w****’.
Mrs Joyce said she had suspected for months her husband was having an affair with Ms Campion and she was ‘proud she stood up’ in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage.
‘I was very measured,’ she told the magazine.
‘I didn’t raise my voice. She and Barney were smoking outside. He bolted when he saw me.
‘I turned to her and said, “My husband is out of bounds, off-limits, he’s a married man with four children”.
‘And then I called her a home-wrecking w****.
‘It was not one of my finer moments but, looking back, I’m proud I stood up to her.’
Tim Joyce died of cancer at the weekend after being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital late last week.
He was 42 and is survived by his widow Cassie and children Molly, Gracie and Max.
Barnaby and Natalie hug in front of onlookers, as their daughter Bridgette (front) stands nearby. The couple’s separation was announced by Mr Joyce last December
Barnaby, Natalie and family stand outside the church before Thursday morning’s service
Mr Joyce puts an arm around daughter Bridgette (above) as he makes his way into the church
As the couple embrace outside St Mary’s Catholic Church, their two daughters Bridgette (left) and Odette (far right) stand nearby
Broadcaster Alan Jones told his audience on Monday that Mr Joyce had described his brother’s death to him.
‘He said of his brother Tim, “He looked at the ceiling and said thank you God for giving me the experience of life”,’ Jones told his listeners.
‘”Then he faded out and we said the rosary around him. He was such an innocent, loving boy.”‘
Mr Joyce arrived almost an hour before the start of his brother’s funeral and was greeted warmly by mourners outside the church.
He helped carry his brother’s coffin from the church and spoke to Mrs Joyce outside. Mr Joyce then left the grounds with his daughters on foot, followed by Mrs Joyce.
Mr Joyce (pictured) and his daughter Bridgette (front right) are comforted by mourners outside St Mary’s Catholic Church. Natalie is pictured at far left
Mr Joyce was one of the pall bearers who carried Tim Joyce’s coffin to a waiting hearse
After embracing his estranged wife Mr Joyce mingled with other mourners outside church
A grieving Mr Joyce was among hundreds of mourners at the funeral service for his brother
Mr Joyce missed the National Party’s annual conference last weekend to be by his brother’s side.
The 51-year-old has been on sick leave since last month.
Ms Campion, 33, gave birth to Sebastian in April and she and Mr Joyce subsequently gave a paid interview to the Seven Network.
Mrs Joyce described that interview, for which the new couple was paid $150,000 to be put into trust for their son, as an ‘absolute disgrace’.
In a further indignity, Mrs Joyce revealed she and her husband had always wanted to name a child Sebastian if they had a son.
Mrs Joyce described the choice of Sebastian’s name as ‘another malicious taunt in a very long line of appalling behaviour.’
The Joyces’ daughters Odette, Caroline, Julia and Bridgette are aged 15 to 21.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce carries his brother’s coffin from the church
Mr Joyce, pictured carrying his brother Tim’s coffin, has been on leave since last month
Mr Joyce described his brother Tim’s final moments, saying: ‘He looked at the ceiling and said thank you God for giving me the experience of life’
Barnaby Joyce, pictured at his brother’s funeral, gave a paid interview to the Seven Network, alongside his mistress Vikki Campion, the mother of his first son, Sebastian
Mr Joyce, who resigned as leader of the federal Nationals after news of his affair with Ms Campion engulfed parliament, was due to return to Canberra this week.
The National Party’s New South Wales leader John Barilaro had described Mr Joyce’s decision not to attend the annual conference as ‘probably a good decision’.
Mr Barilaro said it was important Mr Joyce took time to ‘heal’ while ‘looking after his family.’
A Nationals spokesman told the party conference at Cowra last Friday that Tim Joyce had been taken into intensive care.
‘The family has been called, he has terminal cancer and I just wanted you to all keep him in your thoughts and prayers,’ the spokesman said.
The Joyces put aside their differences to farwell Barnaby’s brother Tim on Thursday morning
Hundreds of mourners gathered on Thursday for the funeral of Tim Joyce, who died of cancer
A hearse carrying Tim Joyce’s coffin prepares to leave St Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday