After 18 years of marriage between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, they’ve announced their split. Why are they separating?
Justin Trudeau is a Canadian politician serving as the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada since 2015 and leader of the Liberal Party since 2013.
In 2023, Justin joined the tall list of celebrities who are separating from their partners.
To name a few: The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and Addison Timlin, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, and Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez also went their separate ways. But one of the most surprising couples to hop on the breakup bandwagon is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
The Prime Minister of Canada and his partner have been together since 2015. On Wednesday, Aug. 2, the two announced that they were separating after almost two decades of marriage, but before they split up, they took the crown as one of Canada’s cutest couples. One question everyone wants answer to is, why they are splitting. Read on for more.
Why are Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau separating?
Trudeau first met Sophie Grégoire when they were both children growing up in Montreal; Grégoire was a classmate and childhood friend of Trudeau’s youngest brother, Michel. They reconnected as adults in June 2003, when Grégoire, by then a Quebec television personality, was assigned as Trudeau’s co-host for a charity ball; they began dating several months later.
Justin and Sophie got married on May 28, 2005, in a ceremony at Montreal’s Sainte-Madeleine d’Outremont Church. They had previously engaged in October 2014. After their union, they became parents to three children; two sons and one daughter.
Justin is only second to his father in the history of prime ministers to separate from their wives during their term in office — emphasize on separate. As of now, Justin and Sophie have only confirmed that they’re taking some time apart. But do you think they’ll actually get a divorce?
Justin’s entry in Forty Fathers also spoke of his mom and dad’s relationship. According to the politician, he made efforts to be more “emotionally engaged” with Sophie than his father was with his mom.
“When I met her, I knew pretty quickly I had found the right woman to be the mother of my children,” he said.
In August 2023, Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire announced their separation. The Canadian Prime Minister and his wife, Sophie, said in statements posted on Instagram that they made the decision after “many meaningful and difficult conversations.”
In August 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister shared the news of their separation on Instagram.
“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,” Trudeau wrote in the announcement.” For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.”
The Canadian Prime Minister’s office confirmed the news to PEOPLE, saying in a statement that Trudeau and Sophie have “signed a legal separation agreement.”
“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,” the statement said.
“Margaret relinquishes all privileges as the wife of the Prime Minister and wishes to leave the marriage and pursue an independent career,” read the PMO statement at the time. “Pierre accepts Margaret’s decision with regret and both pray that their separation will lead to a better relationship between themselves.”
While not legally divorced but only ‘separating’, there are no official reason for their split.
Various factors may explain the separation. Challenges of political life, unconfirmed allegations of infidelity, a 12-year age difference, and Justin’s demanding political career could have played roles. The Trudeau family legacy may also have added pressure.
Rumors suggest that Justin may have had an affair during their marriage, though, both he and Sophie denied it.