Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie are separating and have signed a legal agreement to that effect, the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.
The couple, who had been married for 18 years, have three children together, two sons, Xavier, 15, and Hadrien, 9, and one daughter, Ella-Grace, who is 14 years old. The couple wed in 2005.
HARRIS STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT WITH BIDEN AT THE BEACH
“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,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement. “They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. Both parents will be a constant presence in their children’s lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together.”
The couple released nearly identical messages on Instagram confirming the news but maintained that the family will remain close and that the couple has a “deep love” and respect for each other, their family, and the lives they built together.
“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” Trudeau wrote in a message posted to his Instagram account. “For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, a former television presenter, has been an advocate of mental health and gender equality, among other issues, since her husband became the political leader of Canada in 2015. But Gregoire Trudeau has been notably absent from her husband’s side at recent events, including a dinner for NATO leaders and their spouses in Lithuania last month. She was also missing from an overhaul of Trudeau’s Cabinet that was an attempt to reset his government’s economic agenda.
The couple will still vacation together with their children next week, the prime minister’s office said.
