Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau splits from wife Sophie Gregoire after 18 years.

"After many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to part ways," the 51-year-old prime minister announced on Instagram.

Justin and Sophie, a former entertainment journalist, were childhood friends and began dating in 2003 after meeting at a charity ball. Two years later they got married and three children were born from the union: Xavier, 15, Ella Grace, 14 and Hadrien, 9.

"They remain a family and will be a constant presence in their children's lives," reads a note from Trudeau's office who, in his 2014 autobiography "Common Ground," recounted "the dark drama" and the pain for the divorce of his parents.Also his father Pierre in 1984, when he was at the helm of Canada, separated from his mother Margaret.

Sophie had been appearing in public less and less recently and last year she confessed, once again on social media, that she and her husband "had had happy days, blizzards and everything in between".

"We've had our ups and downs - Trudeau wrote in his memoir - but Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love".

Not only in love, also in politics it is a bad moment for Trudeau , in decline in support and behind the Conservatives in the polls ahead of the elections scheduled for October 2025. Last week the prime minister announced a cabinet reshuffle with the aim said he would strengthen his economic team ahead of the vote.

(Unioneonline/D)