Justin and Sophie Trudeau: love and separation

FILE PHOTO: Liberal leader and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau hug on stage after the federal election at the Palais des Congres in Montreal, Quebec, Canada October 22, 2019. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

OTTAWA — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau unexpectedly announced their separation on Instagram on Wednesday, likely marking the end of the couple’s 18-year high-profile marriage.

Trudeau, 51, and Gregoire Trudeau, 48, got married in May 2005. Ten years later, Trudeau became prime minister, landing the sharply-dressed couple in the world media’s spotlight.

Trudeau, whose father Pierre Elliott Trudeau was also Canadian primer minister for 15 years, worked as a school teacher before joining politics.

Gregoire Trudeau was a former entertainment journalist and had known Trudeau since childhood. They have three children Xavier, 15, Ella Grace, 14, and Hadrien, 9.

They often publicly expressed love and displayed unity, especially on birthdays and anniversaries, but over the years, their married life has seen ups and downs.

Here are some comments the couple have made about their married life in recent years.

* Trudeau, 2014 autobiography, Common Ground

FILE PHOTO: Newlyweds Justin Trudeau, son of the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and Sophie Gregoire wave as they drive off in his father’s 1959 Mercedes 300SL following their wedding ceremony, in Montreal, May 28, 2005. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo

“Our marriage isn’t perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs, yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. We are honest with each other, even when it hurts.”

* Gregoire Trudeau told Global News in 2015 that “no marriage is easy.”

“I’m almost kind of proud of the fact that we’ve had hardship, yes, because we want authenticity. We want truth. We want to grow closer as individuals through our lifetime and we’re both dreamers and we want to be together for as long as we can.”

* Trudeau, May 28, 2023, on Instagram

“Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you, Soph. Happy anniversary!”

* Trudeau, April 24, 2023, on Instagram

“Happy birthday, Sophie. From this, to this, and everything in between, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side… I love you, mon amour.”

* Gregoire Trudeau, September 2020 on Instagram

“Our first date was 17 years ago… we are not that young anymore, but what an adventure it’s been. Through all the ups and the downs, you’re still my person. I love you. #TBT to a quiet moment we shared somewhere along the way.”