Adedokun Waliyu 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, his wife, have announced their separation — after 18 years of marriage.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the prime minister said they had “many meaningful and difficult conversations” prior to their decision.
The couple also asked for privacy out of respect for the children’s well-being.
“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other for everything we have built and will continue to build,” he wrote.
A statement from the prime minister’s office said they have both signed a legal separation agreement.
Trudeau, 51, and Sophie, 48, were married in late May 2005 in Montreal.
They have three children: Xavier who is 15, Ella-Grace who is 14, and Hadrien who is nine.
In April, the PM publicly praised his wife on the occasion of her birthday.
Trudeau shared two selfies with her with a caption professing his love for her.
“From this, to this, and everything in between, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side,” he wrote on Twitter.
In the same vein, Sophie hailed her husband in a Father’s Day post on Instagram in June.
