Madonna steels herself for imminent visit by Malawi child welfare officers

12 April 2012
The Weekender

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With the future of her son's adoption depending on an imminent visit by a child welfare officer from his native Malawi, Madonna is doing everything in her power to make sure she keeps custody of 18-month-old David Banda.

Last week she flew back from New York – where she is recording a new album and house-hunting – to prepare for the arrival of Penston Kilembe, who is due to spend up to five days at the singer's £6.5 million London home.

But the 48-year-old star's plans to be reunited with her family are to be short-lived. She aims to return to New York as soon as the inspection is over, to put the finishing touches to her new album.

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Madonna: doing everything in her power to make sure she keeps custody of 18-month-old David Banda.

After a short break with her film director husband Guy Ritchie and their children, Madonna will then be working non-stop until mid-2008.

"She obviously wants to promote the fact that they are a happy and grounded family, but the truth is Madonna has been back and forth between America and London while her kids have been at home, and she's going to be away lots more over the next few months," says a source close to the star.

"The finishing touches still have to be added to her new album, so she is flying back to the States once the officer's visit is over."

Madonna, who has a daughter, Lourdes, 11, and a six-year-old son, Rocco, has already told her husband she will be working back to back from September.

"Madonna has promised to take a six-week break to spend time with Guy and the children before embarking on her mammoth ten-month work regime," adds the source.

"After the new record is released in November she is getting ready for a world tour that kicks off next June, then she is launching a 25th anniversary box set and a set of 12 children's books."

A spokesman for Madonna declined to comment.

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