Photo: AP

Madonna and Guy Ritchie can no longer hide behind countless denials of domestic trouble,  announcing Wednesday that they are divorcing, after close to eight years of marriage.

Pop Queen Madonna  and her Brit filmmaker husband were never far from gossip headlines worldwide, especially in recent years when reports began to accumulate regarding their rocky marriage.

After these years of speculation (and is this life imitating art, or art imitating life?) the couple issued a brief statement by their representatives Wednesday, asking for respect from the media for their family's sake.

Apart from the financial settlement to be decided, the wealthy couple must also settle on child custody issues. The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, with most of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and the retreat in Wiltshire.

Madonna and Ritchie were married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle, in the Scottish Highlands. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8 and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

Lawyers said the couple would likely try to come to an agreement before heading to court.

Tags: Guy Ritchie, Madonna