Focus On Children's Problems After Divorce, PM Trudeau: I'm Grateful Canadians Respect Our Privacy

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie are in the middle of an activity at Ottawa. (Wikimedia Commons/Taymaz Valley)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Canadians who respect his family's privacy and space for movement, want to focus on taking care of the children, after announcing a breakup with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau earlier this month.

PM Trudeau has just returned from a vacation with his family and wife in British Columbia.

"I have had a very good 10 days with my family to focus on the children, to focus on togetherness and move forward," said PM Trudeau, quoted by Reuters on August 22.

When asked, he refused to say how he felt and would not elaborate on the separation.

However, he thanked those who have supported him, emphasizing the importance of sustainable privacy.

"I really, really want to thank Canadians who have been so very friendly and very generous in respecting our privacy and space of movement," said PM Trudeau.

As previously reported, PM Trudeau's Office said the prime minister and wife had signed a legal agreement to separate, but had never discussed it in public.

Trudeau (51) and Sophie (48) married in May 2005 and have three children, namely Xavier (15), Ella-Grace (14) and Hadrien (9).

PM Trudeau and Sophie have previously spoken candidly about the difficulties in their relationship, with the two increasingly rarely seen in public in recent years.

Sophie will move to separate accommodation on Ottawa, but plans to spend a lot of time with the kids at Rideau Cottage, the prime minister's official residence, to ensure they get a normal education, said a source familiar with the situation.

The source, who asked for his name to be kept secret due to a very sensitive situation, said the couple would have joint custody of the children.