Madonna wins right to take sons to live with her in US

MADONNA is to take her children to live in the United States after winning a residency battle with her former husband Guy Ritchie, it was reported last night.

The singer is believed to have been given temporary permission to take their two sons from Britain in an agreement that is expected to be made permanent within a fortnight.

Madonna, 50, is expected to take Rocco, eight, and David, three, who was adopted from a Malawi orphanage, to live with her in New York, where the father of her eldest child, Lourdes, 12, lives. It has been widely reported that she is keen to move back there.

The star is said to be dating a baseball player, Alex Rodriguez, who plays for the New York Yankees.

Ritchie, 40, has picked up close to 45 million in cash, a country estate in Wiltshire and a London pub in his divorce with Madonna.

The couple were granted a "quickie" divorce in November but had failed to settle their differences over the children.

The two children are likely to divide their time between London and New York but be educated in the US.

The "amicable" resolution is likely to earn Madonna and Ritchie praise for putting their differences aside for the sake of their children.

Madonna yesterday announced a new European tour, beginning on 4 July at the O2 Arena in London, with tickets costing as much as 175, and ending in Slovenia on 20 August.

The concert would allow Madonna to hand the boys over to Ritchie while she is on tour.