Sophie Grégoire Trudeau reflects on time as 'non-official First Lady' of Canada: 'It’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it?'

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is reflecting on the end of an era. On Monday, the 49-year-old former television host took to Instagram to share her thoughts as Mark Carney succeeds Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Grégoire Trudeau shared a photo of her daughter, 16-year-old Ella-Grace Trudeau at Sunday’s Liberal leadership event in Ottawa, along with a photo of Justin, Carney and his wife, Diana.

“It’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it?” Grégoire Trudeau wrote. “Maybe one day I’ll find the words to describe the depth of the experience I had as a simple human, a woman, a non-official First Lady and as mom raising three kids whose loving father Justin was in full service to his country.”

Grégoire Trudeau and the Prime Minister were married in 2005 and share three children, 17-year-old Xavier, 16-year-old Ella-Grace and 11-year-old Hádrien. The pair announced their separation in August 2023.

Grégoire Trudeau added that she was “proud” of the Liberal Party and its hard work before addressing her daughter who took to the podium to introduce her father.

“Ella-Grace, you spoke with a solid and grounded presence while introducing your dad,” she said. “Maman can’t be any more proud of your fierce mind and tender heart.”

The “Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other” author offered her congratulations to Carney, who won 85 per cent of the vote to replace Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal party and will eventually become the Prime Minister-designate of Canada.

“The work is far from over and sunny ways persist,” she said as a nod to former Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier and Trudeau, who echoed Laurier’s words in his 2015 campaign.

“To all my Canadian sisters and brothers…: You offered my family and I so much love and support. Just know…I loved you first! Forever in service to all, Sophie,” she concluded.

On Sunday, Ella-Grace introduced her father before he gave his final speech as the leader of the Liberal Party. In a rare public address, Ella-Grace acknowledged her role as the child of the prime minister.

"I think we all know that being a prime minister is not the easiest job in the world. Long days of work stress, media attention. And it's not that easy to be the kid of a prime minister either," she said. "I've been trying hard to live the life of a normal teenager, but I think you can imagine, it's not that simple of a task. Security, rules, drama have all stopped me feeling free over the past few years."

Trudeau's only daughter continued by adding that she "was looking forward to seeing more of [her dad] at home, and less of him online."

"But I would never trade the last few years for anything, she said. "Dad, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud to have seen you fight for our country, for what you believe in, for what we in this room believe in... My brothers and I have shared our dad with you for the past 12 years, now we're taking him back."

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