Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie split after 18 years

ok.co.uk:

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, has announced that he and his wife Sophie are splitting after 18 years of marriage.

In a statement posted to his official Instagram, he wrote: "Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate. "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." He finished: "For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy.Thank you." The pair married in 2005 and share three children together, Xavier, 15, Ella-Grace, 14, and Hadrien, nine.

Following the announcement on Instagram the Prime Minister's Office released a statement, confirming that Justin and and Sophie have signed a legal separation agreement.The Prime Minister's spokesperson said: "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. "They remain a close family and Sophie and the prime minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. "The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week." With this announcement, Justin has become the second Candian Prime Minister to announce a marriage separation while in office - the first of whom was his father Pierre Trudeau, who split from his wife Margaret in 1979, before officially divorcing in 1984.

Justin and Sophie met as children when Sophie became friends with Justin's younger brother Michel. They then reconnected years later as adults in 2003 when Sophie, who was at this point a successful television.