Deluxe Celebrities

Madonna stays in UK, but not for Ritchie

Madonna has vowed to stay in London despite the acrimony of her divorce with Guy Ritchie. The 50-year-old singer was expected to flee to New York with her three children following the breakdown of her 7-and-a-half year marriage to the film director. However Madonna has become emotionally attached to the capital and fears uprooting Lourdes, 12, Rocco, 7 and two-year-old David who are all said to be happy living in Britain.

The singer, who is currently touring the US, reportedly told a friend: ‘There are lots of things about England that I love, but my husband isn’t one of them’ according to The Sun. ‘Everyone expected Madonna to up sticks and go and live in New York, taking the children with her,’ another source told the Daily Mirror.

In happier times: Madonna, Guy, Rocco and Lourdes attend a London film premiere in January 2007

‘But despite some of the unhappy memories that London holds, she still feels that it’s the best base for the kids. ‘They are happy at their school and she doesn’t want anything to interfere with that. Madonna was planning to leave and make a fresh start abroad. ‘But London still has a massive hold on her and it’s hard to shake off.

‘While she will spend a lot of time away from Britain like she does at the moment, any suggestion she’s turning her back on Britain for good are false. ‘She needs to be close to the kids…and that means being in the UK with them,’ the source added. This will be good news for Ritchie whose only concern in the divorce battle is said to be having full access to their children.

Madonna’s publicist Liz Rosenberg yesterday refuted claims a divorce settlement has been settled. ‘I will not be commenting on the various reports regarding the divorce or of the settlement which has not been finalised,’ she said.