Madonna and Guy Ritchie Settlement as finally been reached

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have dismissed reports that they’re still wrangling over their divorce settlement.

The director has issued a statement insisting they’ve reached a satisfactory agreement.

But it points out that the £50 million payout that Guy, 40, was reported to have received is inaccurate.

‘We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months whilst accepting the obvious media interest,’ the statement says.

‘A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued this week. The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement.’

Madonna and the director are yet to finalise custody arrangements for Rocco, 8, and adopted David Banda, 3, reports the BBC.

The pair were granted a decree nisi in November on the grounds of Guy’s 'unreasonable behaviour' - a month after they announced their separation.

Madge, 50, is also mum to Lourdes, 12, with ex Carlos Leon.

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Madonna and ex- Guy Ritchie: Pair still to reach agreement over who’ll get kids over festive period

Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie are said to be locked in a stalemate over who will have their children for Christmas.

The director wants to have traditional celebrations with sons Rocco, 8, and adopted David Banda, 3, at his Wiltshire mansion.

But Madonna, 50, who doesn’t observe the festivities because of her Kabbalah religion, wants the boys to stay in New York with her.

‘Under the terms of the divorce, it is actually up to Guy and Madonna to sort out the access,’ a source tells the Daily Mail.

‘Guy wants a traditional Christmas with his parents and the boys at Ashcombe but Madonna has just put her foot down.

'Madonna and Guy do not liaise at all on anything any more – it all goes through their PAs.’

Madge, who also has daughter Lourdes, 12, from a previous relationship, and Guy, 40, were granted a decree nisi in November.

Removal men were called to their London home yesterday to sort out their belongings.

‘Madonna wanted Guy’s stuff out,’ a source tells The Sun.

'They found it easy to split their things. Just like their marriage, there was Guy’s world and Madonna’s world.’

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Accusations fly in Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s bitter divorce battle

As the accusations fly in Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s bitter divorce battle, one claim’s stung more than most.

Madonna’s always denied having anything but a friendship with Alex Rodriguez, 33, known as A-Rod, but she’s formed an emotional attachment to the baseball player.

At the same time, wild speculation has linked Guy, 40, to various women - including good friend Lauren Meek, associal producer of RocknRolla, and ex Tania Strecker, who now's married - but there's absolutely nothing going on.

The rumours have been so outrageous that the film-maker has been forced to take legal action.

‘Guy’s never once considered the possibility that Madonna would go off with someone else,’ a source close to the couple tells Now.

‘He hasn’t been seeing other people while married, although he does admit they didn’t sleep in the same bed for months. He still believes that nothing physical has happened with A-Rod either.’

Insiders say 50-year-old Madonna’s planning to introduce A-Rod to her children at a kabbalah meeting in New York in a matter of weeks. A-Rod is staying tight-lipped on the subject.

When out with Guy Oseary, the manager they share, A-Rod refused to answer photographers’ questions about Madonna. He’s divorcing his wife Cynthia, 35, and looking for a new home, leading to speculation that he plans to buy a house in the same New York neighbourhood as Madonna.

‘There’s a bond between Madonna and A-Rod based on kabbalah,’ our source adds. ‘Nothing else has happened, but he’s important to her. They could be a couple in the future – unless she looks elsewhere.’

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Madonna's 'marriage contract'

Madonna tried to control Guy Ritchie with a "marriage contract", it has been claimed.

The "contract" was drawn up after the couple - who split after nearly eight years of marriage two weeks ago - visited marriage counsellors two years ago.

The document gave intimate instructions such as how much private time the couple should have together, how often they were to have sex and how to tackle arguments.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper the document ordered Guy to "Work to enrich his wife's emotional and spiritual wellbeing," and devote time to reading texts related to Kabbalah, the mystical offshoot of Judaism which Madonna follows.

On sex, the marriage rules state both of the couple should "devote time to our sexual expressiveness" and "not use sex as a stick to beat one another".

The rules also detailed how Guy should "resolve conflicts in a constructive way", and if they were arguing he must not shout at his wife, but look her in the eye and say: "I understand that my actions have upset you, please work with me to resolve this."

A source close to the couple said: "Guy felt bound up."

According to other insiders, Madonna pinned the contract to the wall of the couple's home in New York, and if things became heated between them, she would say: "Contract, Guy, contract."

The British film director was spotted on the set of his new film 'Sherlock Holmes' in the UK yesterday (28.10.08), strumming a classical guitar.

He reportedly took up the instrument after Madonna bought him one while they were dating.

After Guy reportedly rejected his wife's initial offer of a £20 million settlement, Madonna's friends are reportedly calling him "Material Guy", in reference to her famous hit 'Material Girl'. He maintains he is only requesting the cash equivalent of the value of their London home - estimated to be worth £25 million - and their country estate in Wiltshire.

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Guy Ritchie out with the guys after a week of divorce announcement

Barely a week after his impending divorce from Madonna was announced, Guy found something to smile about in the company of his A-list pals Robert and Jude. The trio were attending a private view by renowned contemporary artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

Guy Ritchie put a brave face on his domestic troubles, enjoying a night out with friends Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr on Thursday. It's the first time the film maker has been seen out on the town since the announcement of his split from Madonna.

After a day's work filming on Guy's latest flick Sherlock Holmes, in which Robert and Jude star, the trio headed for artist Sam Taylor-Wood's exhibition at the White Cube gallery in London.

Though the 40-year-old discreetly refused to comment on the divorce proceedings, he was smiling and looked relaxed in the company of his buddies and other A-list guests such as Benicio del Toro, Hugh Grant and Daniel Craig.

The Londoner and his estranged wife are reportedly still working out arrangements for the care of their children, 12-year-old Lourdes, Rocco, eight, and three-year-old David, who was adopted from Malawi.

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Madonna and Guy Ritchie's bitter divorse takes its toll

MADONNA is having intense Kabbalah “anger management” counselling to deal with her fury against GUY RITCHIE — as the couple’s bitter divorce takes its toll.

Husband ... Guy in London
The 50-year-old singer, who was last night in Montreal for a concert on her world tour, is expected to head back to New York this weekend to visit the city’s Kabbalah Centre.

She also has a counsellor from the mystical Jewish faith who accompanies her on the road to help handle her boiling rage over the split.

Sources say Madge — mum to daughter Lourdes, 12, son Rocco, eight, and adopted tot David Banda — is furious over Guy’s money demands and the way ugly details of their relationship have leaked out.

A tour source said: “Madonna is very angry with Guy — about his cold treatment of her in the marriage, about the nasty details of their marriage that have leaked out, and about the money he is demanding.

“She’s furious that he feels entitled to get a lot of cash, while she’s the one working her ass off on tour.

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“She is getting help from a Kabbalah counsellor who is helping her try to put aside her anger, so they can settle the divorce as quickly as possible for the sake of the children.

“The counsellor is telling her she will meet her soulmate — but first has to calm her anger.”

After The Sun revealed last week that the couple were to divorce, the split has become increasingly acrimonious — with Madonna saying Guy, 40, “emotionally abandoned” her.

She was heartbroken over his alleged cold treatment of her after she fell from a horse in 2005, breaking five ribs and several other bones. Now she is fuming over his claims for her cash in their upcoming divorce settlement.

One pal said: “Madonna feels that Guy is being a gold-digger, and she is furious that he feels entitled to a lot of money from her.

“She feels he didn’t contribute as much as her during the marriage so shouldn’t expect to take so much away.

“She has turned to Kabbalah to sooth her rage, and is getting intense counselling on the road and at the Kabbalah Centre in New York.”

Madge was seen leaving the Centre last week during a brief break from her gruelling Sticky & Sweet tour.

Kabbalah teaches that to find a real soulmate a person must put aside anger and will to win in a relationship — and become a better person.

Its relationship advice reads: “Difficulties and disagreements are without exception opportunities for us to become that right person.”

Madonna turned increasingly to Kabbalah as her eight-year marriage to film director Guy struggled.

But he took a step back from the faith, describing it as “not really a religion.”

The Sun told yesterday how pals believed the marriage was “haunted” by Madonna’s suspicions that Guy secretly preferred his leggy ex-girlfriend TANIA STRECKER to her.

Model Tania, 35, was snapped yesterday at her West London home.

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Guy Ritchie's model lust

Madonna believes Guy Ritchie secretly lusted after his ex-girlfriend during their marriage, it has been claimed.

The singer was reportedly plagued by suspicions the British director preferred his former flame Tania Strecker - a 6ft tall model with 37in legs - especially after Tania claimed Guy was still seeing her when he began romancing Madonna.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Tania is stunning and 15 years younger than Madonna.

"Madonna took Guy from Tania, but never really trusted him that he loved her for herself."

The 50-year-old singer is believed to have told friends she fears Guy would have remained with Tania if it hadn't been for Madonna's multi-million pound fortune.

The source added: "Today she is consumed by the fear that Guy was more interested in her for her money.

"And that - if it hadn't been for her fortune - he'd have stayed with Tania rather than marry her."

In 2001, Tania claimed her romance with Guy was far from over when he began dating the '4 Minutes' singer in 1999.

She also alleged their relationship had only fizzled out "a year ago, a year-and-a-half ago".

If Tania's first claim is true they would still have been together just months before Madonna and Guy's star-studded wedding in December 2000.

If the second allegation is true, Tania would still have been romancing Guy when Madonna was pregnant with the couple's son Rocco, now eight.

When Tania was quizzed on the apparent overlap by radio presenters, she said: "No-one's figured it out so I'm not going to say anything. It might do."

Guy has always strongly denied claims he continued his relationship with Tania while dating Madonna.

The filmmaker has also been forced to deny reports he cheated on Madonna with "a secret lover" towards the end of their nearly eight-year marriage.

His spokesman dismissed the claims as "absolutely untrue".

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Gold-digger' Guy Ritchie

Madonna has branded Guy Ritchie a "gold-digger" despite his claims he wants "not one penny" of her reported £300 million fortune.

Friends of Madonna, 50, have dismissed Guy's assertions he isn't interested in her fortune, saying he is now only interested in getting her cash.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper, the '4 Minutes' singer told a pal: "I'm totally devastated that Guy's turned out to be such a gold-digger. I thought we'd been on a spiritual journey together for the past 10 years - but obviously I was wrong. He's just after my money.


"I've worked my butt off for the last 30 years to get what I have, and now this gold-digger wants to take it from me. He keeps upping his demands - he just wants more, and more, and more from me. It's unbelievable."

Reports have also surfaced claiming the former couple have a prenuptial agreement which denies the British director the right to the money Madonna has amassed during their near eight-year marriage.

The other major issue in the pair's divorce is custody of the three children they raise together - Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and adopted David Banda, three.

'RocknRolla' director Guy, 40, has insisted on having full access to the children as part of the couple's divorce settlement.

But despite reports last week claiming Madonna spent extended periods of time away from her kids, the pop superstar's friends claim she is the "rock of the family".

The source added: "Guy has never contributed towards the running of the family and his son's schooling. Contrary to the image being projected, Madonna's been the rock of the family. She's the one who has the kids with her at all times.

"They are home-schooled and they go on the road with her."

Guy's spokespeople insist he is not a gold-digger and say he could claim much more of Madonna's fortune than he is asking for.

The pair's lawyers are still negotiating the terms of the divorce deal.

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Guy Ritchie and Madonna marriage broke down because of her dedication to Kabbalah

Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s marriage broke down because of her dedication to Kabbalah and an obsessive 4-hour daily exercise regime, claim pals.

Long yoga sessions made the 50-year-old so tired that before they announced their split, it’s reported that Madonna and Guy hadn’t made love for 18 months.

‘He got more and more frustrated as she spent nearly half the day working out,’ a source tells The News Of The World.

When the film director, 40 – who doesn't share his wife’s 'mumbo jumpbo' spiritual beliefs – did embrace her, he’s said to have quipped that it was like ‘cuddling up to a piece of gristle’.

The pair are now sorting out the details of their divorce.

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Madonna's doomed marriage

Madonna's marriage was doomed after Guy Ritchie's "unsympathetic" reaction to her 2005 horse riding accident.

The turning point in the couple's relationship came when the singer broke eight bones in the fall, after which Madonna claims she received a "complete lack of love and sympathy" from her husband according to friends.

Pals believe the accident - which happened as she was celebrating her 47th birthday at the couple's Wiltshire home - caused many arguments between the couple and in one outburst after the incident Madonna reportedly asked Guy: "Did you ever really love me?"

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "From the moment Madonna fell from that horse, their marriage was doomed. If you can pinpoint an exact event, Madonna's horse-riding accident was it. Every other row the couple had following that boiled down to what happened that summer.

"Guy approached the whole thing in what she now calls, 'A very British way'. Instead of smothering her with sympathy he said, 'Come on darling, you're a tough bird. You'll be back on the horse in no time.'

"In Madonna's mind, she could have been killed, and she wanted to be lavished with love and attention.

"She was so furious at what she saw as Guy's lack of support and cruelty that she told him she was wrong to marry him."

Madonna broke four ribs, her collar bone, scapula and her left knuckle after falling from her horse.

After the accident, Madonna apparently confided to friends: "Guy can't possibly be my soulmate."

Friends of the star - who announced her divorce from Guy on Wednesday (15.10.08) - also claim she blames Guy's attitude on his British public school upbringing and has ruled out the idea of ever dating another English man.

Madonna told a pal Guy's action were "typical of emotionally-stunted British men".

The 50-year-old singer is continuing on her US tour, while Guy, 40, remains in London and has immersed himself in filming his new project 'Sherlock Holmes'.

The couple - who were married for almost eight years - are expected to divorce by Christmas.

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Guy Ritchie blasts

Guy Ritchie has branded Madonna "obsessed", saying "the laughs in our life together were long gone," as their divorce proceedings begin.

Madonna and Guy, whose nearly eight-year marriage came to an end yesterday (15.10.08), are set to divorce by Christmas.

Heartbroken director Guy has now admitted to friends how much the pair's love deteriorated in recent months.

According to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, the 'RocknRolla' filmmaker told friends: "I'm afraid the laughs in our life together were long gone. She's obsessed with her own public image, obsessed with being seen as some kind of global soothsayer. It's silly, she's a pop star.

"I just wanted a regular husband and wife thing. But it was always a great song and dance just to do ordinary stuff.

"There was a time when she used to have a sense of humour about herself. In the last few years she just got angry. In the end, we had no proper family life at all. We were two different people, living two different lives."

Madonna, 50, has hit back claiming Guy, 40, was selfish and put his own interests ahead of his family.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper, the '4 Minutes' singer has accused her spouse of refusing to spend his own money, ignored her pleas to spend more time in New York and shunned her faith in the Kabbalah religion.

She also says he wouldn't support her emotionally over plans to adopt a second child and increasingly quarrelled about her career eclipsing his own.

Guy is "incandescent with rage" over the allegations, branding his wife's faith a "weird religion".

A source said: "Guy's initial support and interest in Kabbalah turned to annoyance and hatred. Guy doesn't believe Kabbalah is a religion on a par with Christianity. He thinks a lot of it is hokum - which has infuriated Madonna."

Proceedings in the divorce case are said to have already been set in motion with Madonna hiring top lawyer Fiona Shackleton - who previously represented both Prince Charles and Beatles musician Paul McCartney in their divorce battles - and has reportedly already issued Guy with legal papers.

It is believed the estranged pair are determined to settle the divorce without the need to go to court.

Sources say Guy reluctantly signed a pre-nuptial agreement before the marriage, guaranteeing him only a lump sum payout instead of a share of Madonna's estimated £260 million fortune, while other sources say he has said wants "not one penny" of her money.

The couple, who were first reported to have marriage troubles in June, raise three children together - Lourdes, 12, Madonna's child by dancer Carlos Leon, Rocco, eight, and adopted David Banda, two.

It is not clear who will get custody of the children.

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Guy Ritchie could win £75m in Madonna divorce battle

But singer said to have offered director a £15m lump sum and their country mansion

Madonna might have to pay a whopping £75million to husband Guy Ritchie as part of their divorce settlement.

The couple, who are not thought to have signed a pre-nup, announced their separation last night.

'Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven and a half years of marriage,’ read a statement. 'They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet.'

Insiders say the director, 40, is entitled to at least half of the £80million the couple earned during their marriage.

Guy could also walk away with another £35million worth of property and maintenance payments, bringing his total payout to £75million, reports the Daily Mail.

Madonna, 50, is thought to have already offered Guy their £12million country estate Ashcombe House and a lump sum of £15million to avoid a bitter court battle.

The Material Girl, who has an estimated personal fortune of £275million, has hired Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton.

Meanwhile, she performed at Boston’s Banknorth Garden for the latest stop of her Sticky & Sweet world tour last night and didn’t refer to the split once.

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Madonna and Guy Ritchie to divorce - it's official

Pair said to have fallen out over adoption plans

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have made an official statement, confirming the break-up of their 7-year marriage.

They would like the media to 'maintain respect for their family at this difficult time', Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg tells the Associated Press.

Recent rows are said to have escalated because although Guy, 40, loves adopted son David Banda, 3, he does not want to have more kids.

‘Guy adores David and is glad they went ahead with the adoption,’ says a source. ‘But he doesn’t want to adopt another child when their marriage is rocky.

It’s a real bone of contention. Everyone agrees it is unfair on the children to witness such terrible arguments and so the divorce has been agreed.’



The relationship is said to have become so strained that Madonna, 50, and Guy are communicating only through their aides.

‘Guy has been the one who has come to the conclusion that enough is enough,' the source tells the Daily Mail.

'They had planned to make it work in the New Year...but it quickly became clear that the relationship was not worth saving.'

Madonna is also mum to Lourdes, 12, with ex Carlos Leon, and Rocco, 8, with Guy. 

The film director is expected to move out of the marital home in Marylebone, London, and into his Wiltshire mansion.

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OMG! Madonna showed up late for Guy Ritchie's premiere

But singer eventually arrives to see RocknRolla

Madonna showed up late for the premiere of her husband Guy Ritchie's film RocknRolla last night.

The singer made it to Leicester Square minutes before the screening.

‘She told me she was half an hour away,’ Guy said before her last minute entrance.

‘She better had be otherwise I am going to be really embarrassed.

'Whatever happens, she'll be late. Take her time and double it.’

Madonna, 50, who is in the middle of a her Sticky And Sweet tour, finally arrived in a jewelled Stella McCartney dress.

Despite rumours of marriage troubles, she and Guy, 39, put on a united front as they posed for pictures arm in arm.

‘It's hard because there is a big ocean in the way sometimes, but we try to do our best,’ he told the Daily Mirror.

Gerard Butler, 38, Thandie Newton, 35, Tom Wilkinson, 59, Meg Matthews and Trudie Styler, 54, also attended the premiere.

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More misery for Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Guy grits his teeth for the sake of the kids - but his feelings haven't changed

When Guy Ritchie headed out to New York to meet up with his wife Madonna 2 weeks ago, it seemed as though there might be a glimmer of hope for their collapsed marriage.

But despite reports he’d rushed to her side for a last-ditch attempt to save the relationship, nothing could be further from the truth.

Rather than becoming the touching reunion it could’ve been, Guy, 39, was forced to wait for 5 hours for his wife to return from rehearsals after he touched down in New York on Monday 30 June.

He was then obliged to take part in a stiff photo opportunity at Italian restaurant Cesca, arranged by Madonna, 49, to show the world they’re still a couple.

‘It was obvious from their awkward body language that they’re far from close,’ a friend tells Now . ‘They were holding hands, but there was no affection and the atmosphere was frosty.

‘Guy went to New York for one reason and one reason only: the children - Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and adopted David Banda, two. He wanted to see them and is frantic that he’ll lose out with any split.

'He wants to make sure he sees as much of them as possible in any custody arrangement. Guy’s sick to the stomach with the way Madonna is even running their break-up to a tight, well-organised schedule he’s expected to just fit into. It wasn’t easy for him to swallow his true feelings in front of the world’s cameras, but there’s more at stake than his pride.’

Madonna’s publicist Liz Rosenberg said after Guy arrived in the US: ‘Madonna’s husband Guy arrived in New York last night to be with his wife and family – not in a last-ditch attempt to save his marriage, which does not need saving. There are no plans for Madonna and Guy to divorce.’

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More misery for Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Guy grits his teeth for the sake of the kids - but his feelings haven't changed

When Guy Ritchie headed out to New York to meet up with his wife Madonna 2 weeks ago, it seemed as though there might be a glimmer of hope for their collapsed marriage.

But despite reports he’d rushed to her side for a last-ditch attempt to save the relationship, nothing could be further from the truth.

Rather than becoming the touching reunion it could’ve been, Guy, 39, was forced to wait for 5 hours for his wife to return from rehearsals after he touched down in New York on Monday 30 June.

He was then obliged to take part in a stiff photo opportunity at Italian restaurant Cesca, arranged by Madonna, 49, to show the world they’re still a couple.

‘It was obvious from their awkward body language that they’re far from close,’ a friend tells Now . ‘They were holding hands, but there was no affection and the atmosphere was frosty.

‘Guy went to New York for one reason and one reason only: the children - Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and adopted David Banda, two. He wanted to see them and is frantic that he’ll lose out with any split.

'He wants to make sure he sees as much of them as possible in any custody arrangement. Guy’s sick to the stomach with the way Madonna is even running their break-up to a tight, well-organised schedule he’s expected to just fit into. It wasn’t easy for him to swallow his true feelings in front of the world’s cameras, but there’s more at stake than his pride.’

Madonna’s publicist Liz Rosenberg said after Guy arrived in the US: ‘Madonna’s husband Guy arrived in New York last night to be with his wife and family – not in a last-ditch attempt to save his marriage, which does not need saving. There are no plans for Madonna and Guy to divorce.’

See the full story in Now magazine - out now!

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Madonna and Guy fight divorce reports with family day out at Kaballah centre

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have hit back at reports their marriage is in terminal decline with a family outing to the Kaballah Centre in New York.


In a show of unity, the embattled couple took their children Lourdes, 11, Rocco, seven, and David, two, to a service at the centre on Saturday afternoon.

The very public visit comes as Madonna last week took the unusual step of instructing her American publicist to deny rumours her seven-year marriage is on the brink of collapse.

The denial followed mounting reports Madonna had been playing host to late night visits from New York Yankee player Alex Rodriguez.

And yesterday the 49-year-old singer was reported to have handed over her £12million country mansion to filmmaker Ritchie in a sign the pair are planning separate futures.

Madonna, 49, bought the 1,200-acre estate in Wiltshire for £8million in 2001 and wanted to sell it earlier this year.

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Guy Ritchie to launch his own whisky brand

Director wants to create most expensive malt in the world

Guy Ritchie is working on creating his own malt whisky.

The director owns The Punch Bowl pub in London’s Mayfair and reckons his experience at the boozer will help him make the perfect drink.‘Guy is a massive whisky fan and wants to set up his own brand,’ says a source. ‘Since opening The Punch Bowl he has tried some classics.

'He loves a 33-year-old malt — but reckons he can do better. He wants his to be the ultimate, exclusive whisky brand. ‘He’s into his country pursuits and only drinks whisky in his boozer out of specially-made glasses.

'Guy loves the idea of coming back in his tweed and deerstalker and sipping his own brand of whisky which is the best in the world.’ And Madonna’s husband, 39, hopes he’ll be able to charge thousands per bottle. ‘He plans to stuff the current top prices with his brand,’ the source tells The Sun.

‘He reckons there are plenty of rich businessmen and rock stars who would pay six figures for the world’s best whisky.’

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Madonna says she has no plans to divorce Guy Ritchie

POP star Madonna and her husband, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, are not planning to divorce, her spokeswoman says, denying media speculation that their marriage is ending.

"There are no divorce plans," Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's publicist, said in an email to Reuters today.

Rumours that the London-based couple planned to split have been circulating for months, fuelled most recently by reports that the singer had lined up Fiona Shackleton, a lawyer for Paul McCartney in his bitter divorce from Heather Mills.

The speculation reached a fever pitch last week in London, where the Daily Mirror newspaper dedicated two front pages to the plight of the couple's marriage.

Madonna, 49, and Ritchie, 39, married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in northeast Scotland. They met at a party hosted by ex-Police frontman Sting and his wife Trudie Styler.

Their son, Rocco, was several months old on their wedding day, and in 2006 Madonna applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a Malawian court in May.

Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship. She was married once before, to Hollywood actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.

Madonna is one of the most successful rock stars of all time, with global album sales estimated at more than 200 million copies. A multi-Grammy award winner, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March.

Ritchie is best known for his movies Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000), but he has come in for critical maulings since then, most notably when he directed Madonna in Swept Away (2002).

Asked if he would ever work with his wife again, Ritchie said in late 2007: "I don't know. We don't want to stick our chins out again."

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Madonna talking to divorce lawye

U.S. pop star Madonna reportedly is seeking advice from Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer regarding a possible split from her husband Guy Ritchie.

Madonna married the British filmmaker in 2000. The couple, who is raising three children together, is not believed to have a prenuptial agreement.

The Times of London said Fiona Shackleton, the divorce lawyer who ensured McCartney retained the bulk of his estimated $1.6 billion fortune, has been counseling Madonna, who is said to be worth about $600 million.

Shackleton also acted on behalf of Charles, the Prince of Wales, in his divorce.

Ritchie reportedly has consulted with the lesser-known law firm, Forsters.

The Times said Madonna's publicist declined to comment for its story.

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