Madonna's marriage to British filmmaker Guy Ritchie has been plagued by rumors of crisis for several years. Now, Britain's The Mirror newspaper has reported that the Material Girl and Ritchie are, indeed, seriously considering a split.

The Mirror claimed on June 24 that the couple expects to announce their impending divorce at the end of the legendary singer's world tour, which ends on November 29. In the meantime, the couple allegedly has already established separate bedrooms in their London home, which is worth more than the equivalent of $12 million (U.S.).

"They're obviously sad, but they're dealing with it like grownups," an anonymous friend of the couple told the Mirror. "While they'll be the first to admit they have a somewhat fiery relationship, above all, there's a deep respect for each other. Things have just run their natural course."

The paper quoted another source close to the couple as saying: "They live like brother and sister, rather than husband and wife, and thought it best to call it a day. There's been a lot of speculation about them having furious [arguments] all the time... but they have just grown apart. They've decided they're better off as friends. It's sad, but they're determined to keep it amicable." For now, the pair's supposed priority is said to be providing stability for their children.

Madonna, 49, reportedly plans to alternate between her homes in London, New York City, and Los Angeles. She went to New York recently with the couple's two-year-old adopted son, David Banda, and they were spotted at a New York Yankees game this past weekend with her business partner, Guy Oseary.

More information on considering divorce: Are You Ready for Divorce? Making the Decision: Separation Is Divorce the Right Choice? Keep Your Marriage Together Love in Ruins

Widespread rumors of marital woes surfaced earlier this year, when Madge attended two key events without her husband -- her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Berlin premiere of her film Filth and Wisdom. Shortly afterward, her publicist, Liz Rosenberg, sent out a press statement claiming the marriage was doing fine.

Madonna had already admitted that her union with Ritchie was far from ideal, however. In 2005, she told an MTV documentary that she'd married "for all the wrong reasons". She added: "My husband didn't turn out to be everything I imagined him to be. I wanted to end everything."

The Mirror article also quoted a recent interview in which Madonna said, "Guy can be intolerant of my behavior, but he has certain personality traits which need to change as well."

In spite of all the sudden news stories, Rosenberg has told the New York Daily News that the reports of the couple's impending breakup are simply "not true".

Ritchie, 39, has recently completed a new gangster film called RocknRolla. He is currently revising a script for a new Sherlock Holmes movie. His iconic wife begins her world tour in Cardiff, Wales on August 23. They have been married for less than eight years and have a seven-year-old son together, Rocco; Madonna also has an 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship.

Are Guy Ritchie and Madonna calling it quits for real, or are they in denial? We may have to wait a few months to find out for sure. For a psychologist's tips on deciding whether you should stay in or leave a relationship, click here.