The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on Wednesday announced his separation from his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
Justin and his wife announced their separation in a joint statement posted to their official Instagram accounts, saying that they had "many meaningful and difficult conversations" prior to their decision.
The statement read, "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."
The couple asked for privacy out of respect for the children's wellbeing.
It was reported that Justin and his wife Sophie first met as children in Montreal and crossed paths again at a charity event in 2003, and they got married in 2005 and have three children together - two sons and a daughter.
Justin has reportedly praised his wife publicly over the years, most recently in a post on her birthday in April this year when he posted two selfies with her to his social media with a caption professing his love for her.
He wrote, "From this, to this, and everything in between, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side."
He also praised her and his own mother as two of the "strongest, bravest, and greatest people" in a Mother's Day post from May this year.
Sophie had offered similar praise for her husband in a Father's Day post in June when she wrote, "This man could carry the love he has for his kids anywhere. Dads, never underestimate your role as mentors in your family for your sons and your daughters."