The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and his wife, Sophie Grégoire, announced yesterday that they have decided to separate after 18 years of marriage.

The couple announced the decision via their official Instagram accounts, and shortly after the announcement, the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada released a statement stating that the two had “signed a separation agreement” to ensure that they have taken “all legal and ethical measures regarding their decision”.

In the same letter, the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada emphasized that “they remain a united family” and that “both Sophie and the Prime Minister will focus on raising their children in a safe, loving and collaborative environment.” The statement also revealed that the family “will be together on vacation, starting next week.”

The message published by the Canadian Prime Minister on Instagram acknowledged that, “after many deep and difficult conversations” and together with his wife Sophie, they have decided to end the marital relationship.

“As always, we continue to be a close family with a deep love and respect for each one and for everything we have done and will continue to do. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our privacy. Thank you”, he finished pointing to the message, written in English.

For her part, Sophie Grégoire uploaded to her account the same text as that of the Canadian prime minister, but written in French.

Justin Trudeau, 51, and Sophie Grégoire, 48, met during their student days in the Mount Royal neighborhood of Montreal. She was in class with Trudeau’s brother, who died in an avalanche while skiing in 1998. It wasn’t until 2003, after college, that their paths crossed again and the love between them The flash, as explained in an interview by Grégoire herself, was instantaneous: “On the first date he looked me in the eyes and said: ‘I’ve been waiting for you for 31 years. you will marry me We will form a family'”. Two years later the couple married and currently have three children: Xavier, 16, Hadrien, 14, and Ella-Grace, nine.