Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announce separation
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, are separating and have signed a legal agreement, his office said in a statement on Wednesday that appeared to mark the end of the couple’s 18-year marriage.
Trudeau, 51, and Grégoire Trudeau, 48, were married in late May 2005. They have three children.
“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” Trudeau said on Instagram. Sophie posted an almost identical message on her own Instagram account.
Trudeau’s office said the two had signed a legal agreement.
“They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward,” it said.
After Trudeau became prime minister in late 2015, he and Grégoire Trudeau were often seen together at social functions and on foreign trips. But in recent years, Sophie has curtailed such appearances with her husband.
The two of them did travel to London in May for the coronation of King Charles and were together when US President Joe Biden visited in late March.
Trudeau gave a news conference on Monday and took a ride on the Toronto subway that night, but has had no public appearances scheduled for the last two days.
“They remain a close family and Sophie and the prime minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment,” said the statement. “The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.”
His office requested respect for their privacy.
Trudeau is the second prime minister to announce a separation while in office.
His father, Pierre Trudeau, separated from wife Margaret in 1979, and the two divorced in 1984.
Justin Trudeau channeled the star power of his Liberal icon father when he was first elected in 2015. Scandals, voter fatigue and economic inflation have taken a toll on his popularity after eight years in power.