BREAKING: Justin Trudeau, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announce separation after 18 years of marriage

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday he is separating from his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

The prime minister made the announcement on his Instagram account Wednesday afternoon.

“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations we have made the decision to separate,” he said. We remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and everything we have built.”

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the couple had signed a legal separation agreement “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.”

Both said that they would remain in their children’s lives and will continue to be seen in public together. They said they still planned for the family to vacation together next week.