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Last Updated: Thursday, 26 October 2006, 14:35 GMT 15:35 UK

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Timeline: Madonna's adoption saga

4 October, 2006

Madonna arrives in Malawi
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Madonna arrives in the Malawian capital Lilongwe on a private jet. She is said to be visiting the country on a humanitarian mission to visit Aids orphans but government spokesperson Adrina Michiela tells Reuters the singer plans to adopt a child. "She asked us to identify boys only which we have done after visiting four orphanages" she says. Madonna's spokesperson denies the reports. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

5 October, 2006

Madonna and Guy Ritchie visit orphanage
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Madonna her husband British filmmaker Guy Ritchie visit an orphanage outside Malawi's business capital Blantyre. They do not talk to reporters but Madonna's publicist distributes photos of the visit to the press. The couple will visit several more orphanages over the next three days.

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9 October, 2006

Construction begins on Madonnas orphanage
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Workers start building a children's home for Aids orphans in the impoverished village of Mphandula 30 miles outside the Malawian capital. It is one of six projects Madonna is said to be funding in the country. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

11 October, 2006

Childs father confirms adoption
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Yohane Banda tells the Associated Press news agency that Madonna has adopted his 13monthold son David. "I know he will be very happy in America" he says. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

12 October, 2006

Adoption approved
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Malawian high court judge Andrew Nyirenda issues an interim order allowing Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie to take custody of David Banda. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

13 October, 2006

Madonna leaves Malawi amid protests
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Madonna and Guy Ritchie leave Malawi without David whose departure is delayed as immigration officials process his passport. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Malawian civil rights groups claim they will challenge the singer's adoption bid in court. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

16 October, 2006

Baby David flies to London with Madonnas staff
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0David Banda is taken on a private jet to South Africa and then London. Witnesses say he is accompanied by Madonna's bodyguard and a nanny. Madonna's publicist says the singer has been granted an interim adoption giving her custody of the child for 18 months. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

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17 October, 2006

Madonna issues statement defending adoption
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0"After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship poverty and in many cases death" she writes in an open letter to the press. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

19 October, 2006

Davids father speaks out
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0David Banda's father criticises children's rights groups who are aiming to challenge the Madonna's adoption plans in court. "Where were these people when David was struggling in the orphanage" Yohane Banda asks the AP news agency. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

21 October, 2006

Malawian court case postponed
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0A case brought by rights groups challenging Madonna's adoption is postponed by a Malawian judge so the Attorney General can consult the children's ministry. The hearing is rescheduled for 27 October. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

22 October, 2006

Davids father claims he was misled
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0"I was never told that adoption means that David will no longer be my son" Yohane Banda claims. "If I was told this I would not have allowed the adoption." LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

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25 October, 2006

Madonna appears on Oprah
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0In a recorded interview Madonna tells Oprah Winfrey she is disappointed by media coverage and insists the adoption was legal. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

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26 October, 2006

Official photo of Madonna and her children is released

27 October, 2006

Adoption challenge postponed again
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The hearing of a case brought by rights groups challenging Madonna's adoption is adjourned giving the judge time to hear from other parties involved in the case. It is due to resume on 13 November. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

1 November, 2006

Madonna says she offered to support David in Malawi
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight programme Madonna says she offered to support David as he grew up in Malawi but his father declined. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0

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29 November, 2006

Legal challenge gets goahead
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0A Malawi judge allows human rights groups to challenge the adoption. The alliance of 67 Malawian groups argue that the government cut legal corners to "fasttrack" the process and said regulations must be followed to protect children. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0 LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0