Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, have announced their separation after 18 years of marriage.
In statements posted on Instagram on Wednesday, the couple said they made the decision after many meaningful and difficult conversations and requested privacy.
A statement from the prime minister’s office said the couple have signed a legal separation agreement.
Trudeau, the 51-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous politicians, was sworn into office in 2015. Gregoire Trudeau is a former model and TV host. The couple were married in May 2005 and have three children, aged 15, 14 and nine.
An official familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency that the couple would have joint custody of their children. Trudeau and the children will continue to live at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, the prime minister’s official residence, where he has lived since 2015.
