GOOD LOURDES
Madonna's daughter steps in to stop the vicious rows - she guides couple to early agreement
MADONNA and Guy Ritchie's divorce could be settled as early as NEXT WEEK after the star's daughter Lourdes begged: "Please don't be mean to each other."
The 12-year-old made the heart-rending plea when the couple broke the news that they have split.
But they are close to reaching an agreement, and today the News of the World reveals the few thorny issues that still divide them:
GUY wants son Rocco to go to a British school and not be educated in the States.
MADONNA insists ALL the kids stay with her in New York.
SHE plans to adopt ANOTHER child from abroad.
But Madonna's daughter Lourdes, who is close to her stepdad, is acting as family peacemaker.
A family friend said: "Lourdes is heartbroken. Although Guy isn't her biological dad she loves him to pieces and loves living with him in London. She wants to visit Guy as often as possible.
"She's known him for most of her life, after all."
Madonna, 50, and Guy, 40, had a family heart-to-heart with Lourdes, her brother Rocco, eight and three-year old adopted brother David Banda.
The friend said: "Rocco and David are too young to fully understand what's going on, but Madonna told them they will live with Mummy in New York but will see Daddy often.
"Lourdes is more worldly wise though, and she got very upset. She knows how it might go because of the sometimes strained relationship her mum has had with her birth father."
Lourdes' biological dad, dancer Carlos Leon, split with Madonna in 1996.
Guy and Madge's main sticking point is Rocco. The film director is desperate for his son to be educated in Britain. But Madonna wants him to stay with her and the other children in New York.
The pal said: "The most likely outcome is that Rocco will stay in America with Madonna.
"One option would be for him to board at a British school and spend holidays with her in America." Friends say Madonna plans to get over the turmoil of her divorce by adopting another child.
The pal added: "She's planning a tour of orphanages around the world, especially Africa and the Far East, to take her mind off things."
Meanwhile, Guy has been on the receiving end of flak over our story last week about the couple's 18 month sex drought from good friend Jude Law and US actor pal Robert Downey Jr, who co-star in his new film version of Sherlock Holmes.
The source revealed: "Jude took the News of the World to the Sherlock Holmes set. Guy had to laugh about it." Under their pre-nuptial agreement Guy-already worth £30 million -gets £10 to £12 million cash, plus their 1,200 acre Wiltshire estate. He is sole owner of London pub, the Punchbowl, so keeps it. The cash covers London properties Madonna keeps
The couple, who married in December 2000, have agreed neither can claim on money made before they wed-in Madonna's case about £300 million.
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This article has 15 comments
I am really pleased to read all the views because I thought I was going nuts. Madonna does not seem to have grown up or have many maternal genes at all. She spends all her time in the gym or performing etc. I do pity Guy because I feel that he just wanted a traditional family - don't we all. I am embarrassed for Madonna, she reminds me of the person we all were at 20. If she thinks that all her audiences give a dam they don't. Her true immediate friends and family can never be replaced by these fame attracted aquintances in her life. I hope that Guy meets a person in the future who is everything that Madonna is not. He will...and then she will want him back ! How predictable and childish ! But I bet it happens. I too believe that guy should have the children as Madonna is only interested in making an idiot out of herself on stage and making more money. Mutton and Lamb spring to mind !!! It is such a shame. Good luck Guy. Unfortunately I am not single, and will not be leaving my husband.
By Miss Picklebottom. Posted October 28 2008 at 3:27 PM.
no one has a right to say someone is a good or bad mum... she isnt beating or abusing her kids. clearly she must be a good mother if her 12 year old daughter is so sensible.
By john. Posted October 28 2008 at 1:02 PM.
Just because she has loads of money madonna thinks she can do and say what she wants to everyone, such a greedy, selfish,evil woman as her
is yet to be born.
By barry jones. Posted October 27 2008 at 4:38 PM.
Thank God for the wisdom of a child! What happened to 'Til death due us part', does anyone honor their vows anymore? People who get divorced throw each other away like yesterday's trash!
By tj. Posted October 27 2008 at 6:30 AM.
emily its actually 'pedanic pete' not 'pedantic pete' ...
By David Franks. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:51 PM.
It's you reap what you sow
By nina. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:31 PM.
pedantic pete - It's actually 'reap what you SOW' not sew. If you're that pedantic, you should at least be accurate before correcting others. Oh, and if you don't know the difference between 'sew' and 'sow', reference a dictionary.
By Emily. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:13 PM.
Yeah that's great reggie but if you are going to go down the well trodden path of tired old cliches you might want to get them right, especially if, like you, you're attempting to take some sort of high ground by doing so.
It's REAP what you sew, buddy, not "get" what you sew.
"middle class"?? LOL! pity your grammar betrays your conceit.
By pedanic pete. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:00 PM.
You get what you sew.
My wife, kids and I are a middle class Canadian family making ends meet.
Because everything we buy comes as a material percentage of the household income, we respect our worldly belongings.
Use that as an example.
Life is all about values which few wealthy persona seem to be able to retain.
In fact, I feel sorry for Madonna's kids. One has to lead by example. Her children have zero chance!
Happy in Canada
By Reggie. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:52 PM.
Some parents seem to forget that it's really all about the children and not just themselves going through a bad situation. I think it would be best if she kept the children in Britain, so they can have some balance.
Plus I think Madonna is rather selfish to take on another child through a bitter divorce. I wish celebrities should stop treating these kids like a stylish accessory. I have no children, but I grew up with friends whose parents went through bitter divorces. The children become very unbalance and resentful towards one or both parents. Basically the main person caught in the middle is Rocco since he is the only biological child between Madonna and Guy.
Madonna should get over herself for a change and think about what's best for the children. Rocco should split his time between both parents or Madonna should keep the kids in London, till they all get older.
By Kay. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:49 PM.
I think Madonna is actually beginning to believe that she IS her first name. I am so sick of these narcissistic women buying babies from developing nations - having nannies raise them - and then demanding "respect and adoration" from the general public because they are SO-O-O admirable. Madonna: no matter how many kids you buy, you will NEVER be as talented or as beautiful or as young as Angelina Jolie. If you were paranoid about your 10-year younger hubby's roving eye - how insane will you become watching over your 20-years younger "soul mate" A-Rod? He's a hot-blooded Latin after all, not a wimpy, beer-swilling Brit. Good luck.
By A Friend. Posted October 26 2008 at 3:04 PM.
Oh Madonna... It would be oh so good if you actually got to read my words.
Speaking as a mother (older and wiser than you)... be ever so careful NOT to diss your ex partners in front of the children. They will remember and won't think very highly of you when they become adults... and you will only have yourself to blame.
By Babs. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:10 PM.
Adopt another child to take her mind off it!!!! For the love of God - children are not toys or accessories - go buy some shoes or something. The difficulty "normal" people have getting through the adoption process when they are desperate to give a child a loving, balanced and settled upbringing is incredible when you think that "celebrities" just pop out and buy one. The only difference is that celebrities have more money - it doesnt make them better parents or people and it is about time the public and the media stopped convincing them otherwise.
By Jane. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:36 AM.
I agree Sue. Madonna would be better off supporting her children through this divorce, rather than looking for another innocent mite to 'take her mind off things'.
By Kaz C. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:52 AM.
What is the matter with these so called pop stars - they get divorced then adopt/buy another child just like they are going down to the sweet shop.
By Sue H. Posted October 25 2008 at 9:55 PM.