Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is separating from his wife, Sophie Grégoire, after 18 years of marriage.
Mr. Trudeau, 51, made the announcement in a statement published on Instagram Wednesday afternoon.
“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” Mr. Trudeau said in the post.
“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our privacy and their privacy.”
Mr. Trudeau and Ms. Grégoire, 48, have three children: Xavier, 15, Ella-Grace, 14, and Hadrien, 9. The couple met in Montreal in 2002 and were married three years later, after Mr. Trudeau, who had spent years teaching in Vancouver, returned to Montreal.
The announcement comes as Mr. Trudeau overhauled his cabinet last week, shuffling Liberal Party ministers in key portfolios to inject what he called “fresh energy” into the team. Political analysts say it’s an attempt to get his party in fighting form for an election in 2025, with recent polls showing the Conservatives ahead.
