Madonna Awarded Adoption

Madonna

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have been granted permanent adoption of David Banda, the two year old Malawian boy the couple have been caring for since October 2006.

A court in Malawi ruled in favour of the adoption after social workers from the country, who have been monitoring David's progress and the suitability of his new family environment, said that under Madonna and Guy's care he had developed into "a happy, thriving toddler".

As you've no doubt noticed over the last year and a half, this whole process has been surrounded by controversy. Various human rights groups have claimed that Madonna was not going through the proper adoption channels and David Banda's biological father Yohande has variously claimed that he didn't know what adoption entailed.

The Ritchies will be formally made legal guardians of the boy on 15 May, when he will become officially known as David Banda Mwale Ciccone Ritchie.