Meet Madonna's six children and the daughter who stayed by her hospital bedside

29 June 2023 , 21:11

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Meet Madonna's six children and the daughter who has stayed by her bedside

Madonna fans were left concerned to learn following the shocking news of her hospitalisation, which stemmed from a serious bacterial infection.

But the impact of the 64 year old icon's health scare would have undoubtedly been felt the most by her six children.

While the Like A Virgin singer is now said to be recuperating at home, it was reported that her eldest daughter Lourdes Leon remained by the Material Girl singer's side throughout her hospital, which saw her "intubated" for at least one night before having the tube removed.

Later, Madonna's son Rocco Ritchie was spotted visiting Madonna's apartment with his adopted brother David.

The visits from her children show that no matter how rocky their past, family always comes first, despite the Grammy-winning singer mentioning in a recent interview that motherhood had been the "hardest" and "most difficult" job of her life.

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In an interview with Vanity Fair in January, she added: "Having children and raising them is a work of art. And no one gives you a manual.

"You have to learn from mistakes... And it is exhausting because there is never rest."

So who exactly are Madonna's children, and what sort of bond does she share with them individually? Let's take a look.

Lourdes Leon

Lourdes Leon is Madonna's eldest child (Getty Images)

Madonna welcomed her first child with her then-partner, fitness trainer Carlos Leon in October 1996.

The 26 year old is also part of the entertainment industry, having worked as a model, dancer and singer, the latter of which she didn't pursue too heavily as it felt "too close to home."

Furthermore, while she has always shared a tight relationship with her mother, she did reflect on Madona's 'control freak' parenting for Interview magazine in 2021.

"I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school," she told the publication.

Rocco Ritchie

Madonna shares son Rocco with her ex Guy Ritchie (Getty Images)

Madonna shares son Rocco with then-husband Guy Ritchie, who they welcomed in August 2000.

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The pair have had a strained relationship in recent years, which has hit the headlines.

Madonna previously confessed she was hands-on with her kids, but her approach to parenting irked Rocco, which he made clear when he was 12 years old during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

"She's a good mother. Yes. That's all I have to say. She's very strict but in a good way," the pre-teen told the host.

Cracks in the relationship began to show in 2015 when the singer revealed her son had stopped performing alongside her on tour.

Rocco quit travelling with his mum on her Rebel Heart tour and headed to his dad's sprawling country estate in Devon.

He refused to return to his mother in New York, and despite a judge in December 2015 ordering the Hollywood director to send Rocco back, the youngster remained with his dad, splitting his time between Devon and London.

The mother and son have since reconciled, and the pair enjoy a close relationship. In an interview with Vogue Man Hong Kong, Rocco said both of his parents inspired him after growing up surrounded by people who were "passionate" about art.

"Neither of my parents are painters, but both are artists in their own right, and they taught me to appreciate and respect it," he said.

David Banda

Madonna adopted David from Malawi in 2006 (Handout)

Madonna and her then-partner Ritchie adopted David Banda from Malawi in 2006, with the process being finalised two years later.

The Like A Virgin star faced significant criticism for the adoption, with many stating that she should have left David in Malawi and supported him financially from there, despite the boy's father being pleased that his son would be a part of the icon's family.

Defending herself on The Oprah Winfrey Show at the time, Madonna said: "I feel like the media is doing a great disservice to all of the orphans of Africa, not just Malawi, by turning it into such a controversy."

David has grown up to be a fashionista, with Madonna revealing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2022: "He can put on any outfit and look swag as you know what.

"It's really irritating. He wears my clothes and looks better in them. He can even wear a dress and look butch."

Chifundo “Mercy” James

Madonna faced resistance yet again when in 2009, she adopted Chifundo "Mercy" James from Malawi.

Addressing the opposition at the 2017 inaugural of The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Madonna said: "I am a rebel heart. But I am also a compassionate and intelligent human being. And if you cannot give me a logical reason for the word 'no,' then I will not accept the word 'no.'"

Madonna paid tribute to her "precious, beautiful, talented' daughter Chifundo in a gushing post for her 17th birthday in January 2023.

Madonna went on to adopt three more children from Malawi (Instagram/Madonna)

Stella and Estere Ciccone

Finally, Madonna adopted twin daughters Stella and Estere Ciccone on February 17, with the whole family relocating to Lisbon, Portugal, for the summer.

Announcing the news on Instagram, she wrote: "I am deeply grateful to all those in Malawi who helped make this possible, and I ask the media please to respect our privacy during this transitional time," she expressed gratitude towards her friends, family and extended team for their support and love."

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Jabeen Waheed