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Politics

A timeline of the Trudeaus' personal and political moments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grgoire Trudeau announced Wednesday that they are separating after being married for 18 years.

The two were married in 2005 and have three children together

A man and a woman walk holding hands.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grgoire Trudeau announced they are separating on Wednesday. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

After an 18-year marriage, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and SophieGrgoire Trudeau announced Wednesday they have decided to separate.

"Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate," Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau wrote in identical messages posted to their Instagram accounts.

Here is a short timeline of some of their biggest personal and political moments together.


Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau began dating in 2003, says the prime minister in his autobiography Common Ground. Grgoire Trudeau was a former schoolmate of Trudeau's late brother, Michel.

The two became engaged in 2004 and married a year later at Montreal's Sainte-Madeleine d'Outremont church.

Trudeau leaves with his new bride in his father's 1959 Mercedes 300 SEL after their marriage ceremony in Montreal Saturday, May 28, 2005.
Trudeau leaves with his new bride in his father's 1959 Mercedes 300 SEL after their marriage ceremony in Montreal on Saturday, May 28, 2005. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
Justin Trudeau leaves the church his new bride Sophie Gregoire Trudeau after their marriage ceremony in Montreal Saturday, May 28, 2005.
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau leave the church after their marriage ceremony in Montreal on Saturday, May 28, 2005. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Grgoire Trudeau, a former television presenter, has been a prominent presence at Trudeau's side since the beginning of his political career.

In 2007, Trudeau decided to seek the Liberal Party nomination in the Montreal riding of Papineau. He went on to win his seat in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections.

The two were together at the 2012 charity boxing match between Trudeau and then-Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau stands with his wife Sophie Grgoire after he won a boxing match against Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau during charity boxing match for cancer research Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Ottawa.
Then-Liberal MP Trudeau stands with Grgoire Trudeau after he won a charity boxing match for cancer research on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Ottawa. (Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau kisses Grgoire Trudeau in celebration of his boxing match win on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Ottawa.
Trudeau kisses Grgoire Trudeau in celebration of his boxing match win on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Ottawa. (Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau began to consider seeking the Liberal leadership after his wins as an MP. The decision, he wrote in his autobiography, would ultimately come down to "a deeply personal private discussion between Sophie and me."

Trudeau won the federal Liberal leadership in 2013. The two celebrated in Ottawa with their children Xavier and Ella-Grace.

Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and their children celebrate after he won the Federal Liberal leadership on Sunday April 14, 2013 in Ottawa.
Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and their children celebrate after he won the federal Liberal leadership on Sunday April 14, 2013 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
The two share an embrace after Trudeau won the federal Liberal leadership on Sunday April 14, 2013 in Ottawa.
The two share an embrace after Trudeau won the federal Liberal leadership on Sunday April 14, 2013 in Ottawa. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Grgoire Trudeau has become a public figure in her own right throughout Trudeau's time in politics. She is an advocate for several charitable and social causes, including mental health and gender equality.

In 2015, Trudeau was elected prime minister for the first time. The two celebrated his election victory at the Liberal election headquarters in Montreal.

Trudeau makes his way to the stage with Grgoire Trudeau at Liberal party headquarters in Montreal early Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015.
Trudeau makes his way to the stage with Grgoire Trudeau at Liberal party headquarters in Montreal on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau and  Grgoire Trudeau have an intimate moment on stage following his speech at Liberal party headquarters in Montreal early Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015.
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau share an intimate moment on stage following his speech at Liberal party headquarters in Montreal early Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

Shortly after his election victory, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau made headlines by appearing in Vogue Magazine.

"We're more partners than my mother and father were ever able to be," said Trudeau, in the article.

The two were photographed for Vogue by Canadian photographer Norman Jean Roy.

The headline-making image of Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau that appeared in Vogue Magazine in January 2016.
The headline-making image of Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau that appeared in Vogue Magazine in January 2016. (Norman Jean Roy/Vogue)

In March 2016, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau travelled to Washington for a three-day visit. The two attended a state dinner with then-U.S. president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama.

Three months later, Obama made a one-day trip to Ottawa. The former president gave a speech to senators and members of Parliament after being greeted by Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington on Thursday, March 10, 2016, for a state dinner.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau at the North Portico of the White House in Washington on Thursday, March 10, 2016, for a state dinner. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)
Obama, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau take their seats in the House of Commons before speaking to Parliament in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grgoire Trudeau take their seats in the House of Commons before Obama spoke to Parliament in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The next summer, the two welcomed then-Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Ottawa for the Canada 150 celebrations.

The royals attended the 2017 Canada Day event on Parliament Hill with Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau and their children, Hadrien, Ella-Grace and Xavier.

Then Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall join Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and their children at the Canada 150 celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 2017.
Then-Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, join Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and their children at the Canada 150 celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grgoire Trudeau wave as they leave the stage following the noon hour show Saturday July 1, 2017 in Ottawa.
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau wave as they leave the stage following the noon-hour show on Saturday July 1, 2017 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

In September 2019, Trudeau requested the dissolution of Parliament and triggered the launch of the federal election campaign.

The election took place in October, with Trudeau winning andforming a minority government.

Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau watched the results roll in with their children and then celebrated the victory at the Liberal election headquarters in Montreal.

Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and children watch election results in Montreal on Monday Oct. 21, 2019.
Trudeau, Grgoire Trudeau and children watch election results in Montreal on Monday Oct. 21, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grgoire Trudeau celebrate an election victory at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal on Monday Oct. 21, 2019.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grgoire Trudeau celebrate an election victory at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal on Monday Oct. 21, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

A few months after Trudeau's election victory, the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Grgoire Trudeau spoke in depth about mental health and well-being throughout the pandemic. In May 2020, she launched a podcast in which she discussedthe mental health challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau had an unusualagenda on Canada Day 2020. Instead of the regular programming on Parliament Hill, the two harvested vegetables at the Ottawa Food Bank Farm

The Trudeau family listens to Community Harvest Manager Jason Gray before harvesting vegetables at the Ottawa Food Bank Farm in Ottawa, on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trudeau family listens to Community Harvest Manager Jason Gray before harvesting vegetables at the Ottawa Food Bank Farm in Ottawa, on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians headed to the polls in September 2021 to vote in another federal election.

Trudeau secured a third mandate and his second minority government.

He was joined by Grgoire Trudeau and their children at the Liberal headquarters in Montreal to celebrate his victory.

Trudeau watches election results with Grgoire Trudeau and children at Liberal headquarters in Montreal, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.
Trudeau watches election results with Grgoire Trudeau and children at Liberal headquarters in Montreal on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau share a kiss during his victory speech at party campaign headquarters in Montreal, early Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau share a kiss during his victory speech at party campaign headquarters in Montreal, early Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

A year later, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau traveled to London where they attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

They were joined by former prime ministers Stephen Harper, Paul Martin, Jean Chrtien and Kim Campbell, as well as former governors general Michalle Jean and David Johnston.

Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau leave Westminster Abbey after the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II in central London on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022.
Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau leave Westminster Abbey after the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II in central London on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (Bernat Armangue/The Associated Press)
The two arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, in London on Monday Sept. 19, 2022.
The two arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on Monday Sept. 19, 2022. (Jack Hill/The Associated Press)

In March 2023, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau hosted U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in Ottawa.

Biden delivered a speech to the Canadian parliament and attended a gala dinner hosted by the two.

Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau welcomed the Bidens at Rideau Cottage.

President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau before he speaks to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on Friday, March 24, 2023.
U.S. first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau sit in the House of Commons before Biden speaks to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/The Associated Press)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for members of the media as they arrive to visit with Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau at Rideau Cottage on March 23, 2023, in Ottawa.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for members of the media as they arrive to visit with Trudeau and Grgoire Trudeau at Rideau Cottage on March 23, 2023, in Ottawa. (Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press)