Madonna's ex-husband Guy Ritchie reportedly gave up custody of the couple's children to avoid splitting up the family.

The pop superstar, whose divorce from Ritchie was finalized in January, is said to have won permission from the courts to temporarily keep their two sons - Rocco, eight, and adopted three-year-old David - in her native U.S.

But Ritchie, who reportedly wanted the children to stay in England, is now said to have stepped aside, not contesting Madonna's custody bid so the boys can be raised alongside their older sister, Lourdes, 12, - the singer's daughter from a previous relationship - who will remain with her mother in New York.

A source tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "He has always put Rocco and David's future ahead of his own and that is why he has relented. He is adamant that he wants to keep the boys and their sister together. He does not want to tear the family apart from each other. Rocco and David will still see a lot of them.

"He is already making plans to visit the children in America and looking at the possibility of them having holidays in England."

The couple announced their separation in October - with the superstar citing Ritchie's "unreasonable behavior" as reason for divorce - and was granted a preliminary split on November 21.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)