Bill and Melinda Gates announce divorce after 27 years of marriage as daughter reacts

Bill and Melinda Gates have announced a divorce after 27 years of marriage.

In a statement on Twitter,  the pair said, “We no longer believe we can grow together as a couple”.

The tech entrepreneur and his wife are among the richest people on the planet and also a huge driving force in the world of global philanthropy.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the couple said they would continue to work together at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which they run together and is the main arm for their operations around the world, especially in the cause of fighting diseases.

“We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life,” they said.

The couple have three children.

Meanwhile, their daughter, Jennifer laments the situation and its effects on the family.

Their 25-year-old daughter, reacting to the news, said that the family has been going through a ‘challenging stretch of time’ ever since the couple conceived the idea.

Jennifer, who is the oldest child of the Gates, on her Instagram page, said It’s been painful watching her parents split.

“I am still learning how to best support my own process and emotions as well as my family members at this time and am grateful for the space to do so.

“I wouldn’t personally comment any further on their separation but please note your support and kind words mean the world to me,” her post read. Bill and Melinda Gates have three children together. Jennifer is the oldest, followed by Rory, 21, and 18-year-old Phoebe.