OTTAWA -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, have decided to separate after 18 years of marriage, according to statements posted online by both of them.

"After many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate," Trudeau wrote in a post on his social media which was also shared by his wife's account.

Trudeau, 51, and Gregoire, 48, were married in May 2005 and have three children.

In a separate release, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed that the pair have "signed a legal separation agreement."

Trudeau became prime minister in 2015 and has since led the Liberal party to two minority victories in 2019 and 2021. Last week he announced major changes to his cabinet in the hope of locking in the team he will lead into the next election, currently slated for 2025.