Madonna, Ritchie granted divorce

[netfree]

LONDON: In a rather prosaic end to one of the most talked-about celebrity marriages of recent times, it took a High Court judge just six minutes on Friday to grant divorce to pop star Madonna and film-maker Guy Ritchie, a month after the couple announced that they had decided to end their eight-year-old marriage.

They were lumped with 16 other couples who were granted divorce by the same judge.

Much to the disappointment of the paparazzi, neither Madonna who is in America on a music tour, nor Ritchie was present in the court. Both were reported to have reached a private settlement under which Madonna would keep her £300-million fortune with Ritchie agreeing not to make any claims though, legally, he could have been entitled to half her wealth. Ritchie reportedly rejected an offer of £20 million.

The couple were also reported to have agreed to share custody of their two boys, Rocco ( and David Banda (3) whom Madonna adopted. Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes (12), from an earlier relationship, will stay with her.

A sworn statement released by the court stated that Madonna sought divorce on the grounds of Ritchie’s unreasonable behaviour.

The couple had a fairy-tale wedding at Skibo Castle in Scotland in December 2000 but soon their relationship started to sour for which Madonna blamed Ritchie.