Two years after announcing their separation, Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau have largely remained quiet about the road ahead.
The couple first addressed the status of their separation in August 2023, when they shared identical statements to their Instagram pages confirming “that after many meaningful and difficult conversations,” they had decided to part ways.
“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build,” the statements continued. “For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.”
In a May 2024 interview with the “Next Question with Katie Couric” podcast, Sophie Trudeau shed some light on their separation process, remarking that it was painful.
โIt hurts deeply, because in a way, we have these two words in our language. You know, marriage is โsuccess.โ Separation and divorce is โfailure,โโ she explained.
โWe are still bound by love and respect and smiles and tears, and weโre still trying to figure it out. And itโs not perfect, but when you keep things honest,ย Michael J. Foxย said, โWeโre only as sick as our secrets,โโ she added.
As the couple continues to navigate what lies ahead for their marriage, read on to learn more about the parents of three and how their own love story started in childhood.
Friends From the Start, How Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau Met As Kids
In Canada, Justin Trudeau is part of a political dynasty: His father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was prime minister for 15 years; his mother, Margaret Trudeau, was the daughter of an MP.
But Sophie Trudeau met him in the context of being childhood friends.
According to a profile in the publication Macleanโs published at the time of their wedding, Sophie Trudeau said that she was introduced to Justin Trudeau’s family through a friendship with his youngest brother, Michel, who died in an avalanche in 1998 at the age of 23.
A Chance Run-In Leads To A Reconnection
After losing touch, the two reconnected in 2003 to co-host the Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ball fundraiser. At the time, Sophie Trudeau was a television and radio reporter.
โWe laughed, we joked and there was a definite chemistry between us,โ Justin Trudeau told Macleanโs. โAnd I sort of realized, OK, this is someone I have to take seriously.โ
Justin Trudeau, according to the story, evaded reaching out โย but then they ran into each other, which led to a date and a moment of connection.
โI looked at her,โ he recalled, โand I just felt this strength and peace come over me.โ
โAnd I said, โWell, itโs about time you arrived. Itโs been 32 years and I was beginning to think you would never show up. Iโve been waiting for you all my life. Youโre it!'” he recalled himself saying. “I knew it right then and I announced to her that we would be spending the rest of our lives together.โ
A Proposal in 2004 and Wedding Bells One Year Later
According to Macleanโs, the former couple got engaged on Oct. 18, 2004, the same day Justin Trudeau’s father was born.
After Justin Trudeau told Sophie Trudeau that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, he told Macleanโs that they both โburst into tearsโ because they have โbig tender hearts.โ
In 2005, they got married in front of about 180 guests at the Sainte-Madeleine dโOutremont church in Montreal, according to Macleanโs.
Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau Start Their Family in 2007
Prior to their having kids, Justin Trudeau told Macleanโs he wanted three children, and Sophie wanted fewer. โIโm very confident that once we get into it, Iโll be able to convince her that three is fine,โ he said at the time.
Indeed, as the former prime minister predicted, they went on to have three children. In 2007, the pair welcomed their first child, Xavier, on the same day as Justin Trudeau’s father’s birthday. Their daughter, Ella-Grace, was born in 2009. Their youngest, son Hadrien, arrived in 2014.
When Hadrien was born, Justin Trudeau shared a photo of him holding his son’s hand. He captioned it, “Welcome to the world, little Hadrian. 8lbs 3oz, Sophie is wonderful, Xavier and Ella-Grace couldnโt be prouder.”
Justin Trudeau Talks ‘Difficult Ups and Downs’ in 2014In an October 2014 interview with theย Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Justin Trudeau talked about his marriage with Sophie Trudeau.
At the time, he was not yet the prime minister of Canada, but he was working in politics as the Liberal party’s leader.
โI have a very difficult, high-pressured job,โ Justin Trudeau said at the time. โEveryone knows how challenging it is to balance family responsibilities with a job that takes me across the country and working extremely hard.โ
โThere are times when she hates my job and she hates me for loving my job,โ he added. โThere are times … when she understands how much of an opportunity and a responsibility it is for us to actually serve this country that has given us so much.โ
In the interview, Justin Trudeau said his marriage “isn’t perfect” and he and his wife have their fair share of “difficult ups and downs.” But no matter what, he said, “Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. We are honest with each other, even when it hurts.โ
When host Evan Solomon asked if that was โcoded language for extramarital affairs,โ Trudeau responded, โNo.โ
โThis is a conversation about the kinds of challenges that any real marriage goes through,” he said.ย “Tremendous ups and downs, but as I say we are deeply in love and committed to each other and we continue to be.โ
Justin and Sophie Trudeau Mark 18 Years of Marriage in 2023
In a May 2023 Instagram post, Justin Trudeau shared a cute photo of him and Sophie Trudeau holding hands in a car.
He captioned it, “Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you, Soph. Happy anniversary!”
Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau Announce They’re Separating in 2023
On August 2, Justin and Sophie Trudeau announced that they were separating in a joint statement they released on Instagram.
โHi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,โ the statement read on Justin Trudeau’s account.
โAs always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build,โ he continued. โFor the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.โ
