Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Spouse Declare their Separation

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Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, unveiled on Wednesday their decision to part ways after being together for 18 years in marriage.

The pair stated in their Instagram posts that their decision stemmed from “numerous profound and challenging discussions.” The prime minister’s office released a statement saying both parties have legally agreed to separate.

At 51 years old, Trudeau, the descendant of one of Canada’s most well-known politicians, assumed office in 2015. Sophie Trudeau was previously a model and TV presenter. The couple, who wed in 2005, brought a celebrity-like presence to the office of the prime minister, often featuring in Vogue magazine.

The couple has three children, Xavier, aged 15, Ella-Grace, 14, and Hadrien, 9.

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The pair said on Instagram, “We continue to be a tight-knit family, filled with deep affection and respect for each other and for everything we have and will keep building.”

A source with knowledge of the situation said the children will still reside at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, their home since 2015, to maintain a sense of stability.

The source said she relocated to a different home in Ottawa, but would spend time at Rideau Cottage during his travels. This person chose to remain anonymous due to not being allowed to discuss this publicly.

In recent years, she has played a less active role, seldom accompanying the prime minister on official visits. They were last seen together at Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa the previous month.

“Their family remains united, and both Sophie and the prime minister are committed to providing their children with a secure, affectionate, and cooperative atmosphere,” said the statement from Trudeau’s office. “They will be together on a vacation that begins next week.”

The office urged the public to respect their privacy.

Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire first met as children, where she was a classmate of his youngest brother, Michel. Their paths crossed again as adults when they co-hosted a charity gala in 2003.

Trudeau is the second prime minister to disclose a separation while in office.

His parents, Pierre and Margaret Trudeau, separated in 1979 and divorced in 1984 during Pierre’s last year in office.

In her memoir, Margaret Trudeau disclosed her romantic involvement with Senator Ted Kennedy. During a visit to Washington D.C. with Pierre in 1977, she listened to her husband’s speech to Congress while being “caught between a profound need for him and a longing for Ted Kennedy.” After meeting Kennedy a few years earlier, Margaret became infatuated with him, and she confessed that her marriage was not ruined by Kennedy, but she used him to help end a marriage that was already over.

Shortly thereafter, Margaret, who was struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness, left her husband to attend a Rolling Stones party in Toronto, leading to the end of their marriage.

Justin, who was a child at the time of his parents’ separation, mentioned in his 2014 book “Common Ground” that their public life had significant effects. “I was aware, even then, that the pressures of the life my parents were leading impacted them much more than the ordinary stresses of parenthood,” he said.

In 2015, Justin Trudeau managed to capture the charisma of his father, a Liberal icon, when he first won office. However, scandals, voter exhaustion, and economic inflation have eroded his popularity after eight years in power.

Just a few months prior, Trudeau posted a picture of him holding his wife’s hand on their anniversary, with a caption that read, “Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you, Soph. Happy anniversary!”

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