17th October 2006
Madonna's adopted baby David Banda arrives at Heathrow (top). Later today Madonna headed out to her gym in London (bottom)
His life in London began today as it surely will continue.
Covered by a hood to hide his face from a prying world, surrounded by photographers and provided with an escort of flak-jacketed police, Madonna's would-be adopted baby arrived in the full glare of public attention.
Thirteen-month-old David Banda flew in to Heathrow first class from Johannesburg and no sooner had he touched down than he had his first taste of what life will be like with one of the world's biggest stars.
The team bringing him in - a nanny, bodyguard and other aides - dodged reporters at Terminal 1 arrivals hall before driving off in a silver Mercedes people carrier.
But they could not avoid all the photographers and camera crews, and today these pictures - of an innocent clinging for solace to his nanny, utterly ignorant of the fuss surrounding him - will flash around the world as the controversy over the adoption rages.
For the legal arguments are far from over. So far Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have been granted an interim adoption order and David has been issued with a passport and visa.
But they have only been given temporary custody for 18 months, and after that anything can happen.
For now David needs a home, and as of this morning that is Madonna's house in London. Just before 8am the people carrier with blacked-out windows raced into the rear garage of the property near Marble Arch.
Photographers swarmed around the vehicle as a rear gate was opened.
The child was put on a private jet from Malawi to South Africa yesterday afternoon after the courts issued the travel documents.
A passenger who sat next to the baby and his minders in first class said: "The baby was happy and laughing and was just so sweet. He looks very healthy and is absolutely adorable.
The first thing I noticed about him was just how cute he was. I think they will make a great family." The American woman in her thirties said the baby, who was dressed in blue denim shorts, a white shirt and trainers, was put in an adult-sized grey hooded jacket before being taken off the plane.
Now safely ensconced inside Fortress Madonna, David's material needs will be more than satisfied.
But his would-be adoptive mother has her own needs too, and today the Madonna publicity machine began the task of overcoming the doubts of a sometimes sceptical world.
A seven-page spread in Hello! offers pictures of what the magazine describes as Madonna's "emotional trip to Malawi" - and poignant talk of the bond that has already been forged between adoptive mother and child.
According to the writer J Randy Taraborrelli - Madonna's biographer - when she phoned her parents in Michigan to give them the news that she was being allowed to take David home she said: "It's so worth it. He's just the best little baby ever. Guy and I have never been happier."
Madonna left Malawi on Friday following a week-long visit to orphanages there - the same day that human rights groups filed court documents asking a judge to review the adoption amid claims it had been fast-tracked.
Human rights groups claim the authorities may be bending the rules in return for the singer pledging $3million (£1.6million) to help children in Malawi.
Boniface Mandere, of Eye Of The Child, a local child protection society involved in the challenge, said: "The court seems to have made a decision based on Madonna's wealth.
"But being a good parent is not about money.
It is about caring, having heart, it's about love."
Malawi law requires would-be parents to live in the country for a year while social welfare officers investigate their ability to care for the child. Foreigners are not allowed to adopt children - but these rules appear to have been waived in Madonna's case.
Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer for the human rights groups challenging the adoption, said they were not against Madonna adopting a child.
"But we are concerned that the correct procedures be followed and that our laws to protect children are not undermined - and our law is very clear that there is no inter-country adoption," he said. Mr Dzonzi stressed that the adoption was not yet final.
The star's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said: "The interim adoption grants David's new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country."
A consortium of human rights organizations is protesting the adoption, charging that the Malawi government bent the rules to allow Madonna to foster David outside the country.
The Human Rights Consultative Committee had planned to seek an injunction Monday halting the adoption, but postponed the move, saying it wanted to interview an uncle of David's who opposed the adoption, the BBC reports.
Madonna's adopted baby David Banda arrives at Heathrow (top). Later today Madonna headed out to her gym in London (bottom)His life in London began today as it surely will continue.
Covered by a hood to hide his face from a prying world, surrounded by photographers and provided with an escort of flak-jacketed police, Madonna's would-be adopted baby arrived in the full glare of public attention.
Thirteen-month-old David Banda flew in to Heathrow first class from Johannesburg and no sooner had he touched down than he had his first taste of what life will be like with one of the world's biggest stars.
The team bringing him in - a nanny, bodyguard and other aides - dodged reporters at Terminal 1 arrivals hall before driving off in a silver Mercedes people carrier.
But they could not avoid all the photographers and camera crews, and today these pictures - of an innocent clinging for solace to his nanny, utterly ignorant of the fuss surrounding him - will flash around the world as the controversy over the adoption rages.
For the legal arguments are far from over. So far Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have been granted an interim adoption order and David has been issued with a passport and visa.
But they have only been given temporary custody for 18 months, and after that anything can happen.
For now David needs a home, and as of this morning that is Madonna's house in London. Just before 8am the people carrier with blacked-out windows raced into the rear garage of the property near Marble Arch.
Photographers swarmed around the vehicle as a rear gate was opened.
The child was put on a private jet from Malawi to South Africa yesterday afternoon after the courts issued the travel documents.
A passenger who sat next to the baby and his minders in first class said: "The baby was happy and laughing and was just so sweet. He looks very healthy and is absolutely adorable.
The first thing I noticed about him was just how cute he was. I think they will make a great family." The American woman in her thirties said the baby, who was dressed in blue denim shorts, a white shirt and trainers, was put in an adult-sized grey hooded jacket before being taken off the plane.
Now safely ensconced inside Fortress Madonna, David's material needs will be more than satisfied.
But his would-be adoptive mother has her own needs too, and today the Madonna publicity machine began the task of overcoming the doubts of a sometimes sceptical world.
A seven-page spread in Hello! offers pictures of what the magazine describes as Madonna's "emotional trip to Malawi" - and poignant talk of the bond that has already been forged between adoptive mother and child.
According to the writer J Randy Taraborrelli - Madonna's biographer - when she phoned her parents in Michigan to give them the news that she was being allowed to take David home she said: "It's so worth it. He's just the best little baby ever. Guy and I have never been happier."
Madonna left Malawi on Friday following a week-long visit to orphanages there - the same day that human rights groups filed court documents asking a judge to review the adoption amid claims it had been fast-tracked.
Human rights groups claim the authorities may be bending the rules in return for the singer pledging $3million (£1.6million) to help children in Malawi.
Boniface Mandere, of Eye Of The Child, a local child protection society involved in the challenge, said: "The court seems to have made a decision based on Madonna's wealth.
"But being a good parent is not about money.
It is about caring, having heart, it's about love."
Malawi law requires would-be parents to live in the country for a year while social welfare officers investigate their ability to care for the child. Foreigners are not allowed to adopt children - but these rules appear to have been waived in Madonna's case.
Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer for the human rights groups challenging the adoption, said they were not against Madonna adopting a child.
"But we are concerned that the correct procedures be followed and that our laws to protect children are not undermined - and our law is very clear that there is no inter-country adoption," he said. Mr Dzonzi stressed that the adoption was not yet final.
The star's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said: "The interim adoption grants David's new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country."
A consortium of human rights organizations is protesting the adoption, charging that the Malawi government bent the rules to allow Madonna to foster David outside the country.
The Human Rights Consultative Committee had planned to seek an injunction Monday halting the adoption, but postponed the move, saying it wanted to interview an uncle of David's who opposed the adoption, the BBC reports.
