Madonna has apparently brought in her eldest daughter Lourdes as a negotiator between herself and her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, as they continue to hammer out a custody deal regarding her estranged son Rocco.

The Sun reported on Wednesday (March 9th) that Madonna’s first-born child Lourdes, whom she had during her relationship with Carlos Leon, is acting as a mediator between the parties, and that Madge is hoping that her 19 year old daughter can persuade 15 year old Rocco to speak to his mother directly.

Rocco hasn’t seen his mother since he quit her Rebel Heart world tour at the beginning of December last year, amid a reported row over his mobile phone distracting him from homework. Although she obtained a court order to get him to return to her for Christmas, Rocco ignored it and remained in London with Ritchie, where he’s remained ever since.

MadonnaMadonna has apparently roped in her daughter Lourdes to act as mediator in her custody battle with Guy Ritchie

A close friend of the family told the British tabloid paper that “Lourdes is very concerned about her mother. Madonna has no official access or way of knowing what's going on in Rocco's life.”

Madonna is resorting to this strategy as she’s apparently not only concerned about her own relationship with Rocco, but also for that of him and his siblings, including her adopted children David and Mercy, both 10 years old.

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A formal custody hearing, delayed by one month, was finally heard a week ago in New York, whereupon the judge in the case instructed Madonna and Ritchie to come to an arrangement by themselves.

She had been posting a number of throwback images on her Instagram of Rocco as a baby, and since the hearing, the 57 year old singer has appeared increasingly despondent at her chances of repairing her relationship with her son, reportedly breaking down in tears on stage in New Zealand this week.

“There is no love stronger than a mother for her son. If I talk about him too much I might cry.” Dedicating a cover of ‘La Vie En Rose’ to Rocco, she apparently told the Auckland crowd: “I hope he hears this somewhere and knows how much I miss him.”

“Madonna seems close to some sort of stress-induced meltdown,” the source continued. “This is her only son by blood — their bond was incredibly strong.”

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