London The nearly eight-year marriage of Madonna and Guy Ritchie was ended in minutes yesterday in a London court. What began with a wedding at Skibo Castle in the Highlands came to an abrupt end in a “quickie divorce” at the Principal Registry of the Family Division in High Holburn, London. The case - Ciccone M. L. v Ritchie G. S. – was listed with 16 others before District Judge Caroline Reid “for pronouncement of decree or order under the special procedure rule”. The couple did not attend. In a sworn statement, Madonna petitioned for divorce on the ground of Ritchie’s unreasonable behaviour, which she said was “continuing”.
In another document released by the court, Senior District Judge Philip Waller, who gave the go-ahead for the divorce, said he was satisfied that the court need not exercise its powers under the Children Act nor give any directions under the Matrimonial Causes Act. This would indicate that the couple reached a settlement over assets and the children before the divorce. It is understood that they agreed not to demand a financial settlement from each other and to share custody of their boys, Rocco, 8, and the adopted David Banda, 3.
