Home without Mercy: Madonna is met by silent Guy as she arrives back in Britain

Madonna returned to Britain last night after ordering lawyers to ‘do everything’ to win her adoption battle.

The singer, 50, was said to be ‘devastated and shaking’ at having to leave Mercy James, four, behind in Malawi.

As she touched down at Luton airport, the strain visible on her face, her Gulfstream jet was met by ex-husband Guy Ritchie.

Distressed: Madonna bites her lip as she is driven away from Luton Airport

Distraught: Madonna’s hair covered her face as she disembarked from her private jet

Ritchie leapt up the stairs to sweep their adopted son David into his arms for a hug, and whisk him and son Rocco, eight, off to his Wiltshire estate.

He and Madonna did not appear to speak to each other, but Ritchie has publicly supported the adoption of Mercy.

However, the pair were said to have argued over the issue while still married, and Ritchie’s father John said yesterday that his son would be ‘very relieved’ by the court’s decision.

Judge Esme Chombo ruled last week that Madonna could not adopt Mercy as she had not met residency rules which require adoptive parents to live in Malawi for 18 to 24 months.

The star’s lawyer Alan Chinula described the judgment as ‘incomprehensible’, saying the same court had approved her adoption of David Banda in 2006.

A smiling Guy climbed the stairs to the plane, as his son David jumped into his arms for a kiss and a hug

Guy then carried four-year-old David down the stairs as the plane was unloaded

He said they were appealing the decision in Malawi’s Supreme Court, and believed he had a good chance of winning.

Sources said Madonna told him: ‘Do whatever you can to get me my Mercy; I can’t imagine her going back to the orphanage.’

The singer and her eldest daughter Lourdes, 12, were said to have fought back tears as they left Malawi without the child.

Madonna also reportedly told aides: ‘I can’t believe I’m leaving my beautiful 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 behind. It’s not right. I love that 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 girl… She’s my little girl  –  she needs to be with me.’

The singer’s daughter Lourdes follows her mother off the jet

Officials have already returned Mercy to an orphanage, despite the appearance of a man claiming to be her biological father.

Security guard James Kambewa, 24, said he was willing to take a DNA test to prove he was Mercy’s father and wants to raise the child.

If the court in Malawi accepts his paternity claim it is likely to be the final blow to Madonna’s hopes of adopting the child.

Mr Kambewa, who lives in a remote village 100 miles from Lilongwe, said he was told Mercy had died with her mother at the birth.

Lourdes, pictured holding hands with Mercy James, is also said to be devastated about the decision

He told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I bear no grudge against Madonna. But I am Mercy’s father and I want her to stay with me… I will make it plain that my daughter will be staying in Malawi with me.’

Madonna had been told the girl was an orphan and Malawian authorities said her mother and father were dead. The girl’s other relatives had consented to the adoption.

The row echoes that over the adoption of David Banda, when his relatives came forward to oppose plans for him to be taken out of the country.

Ex-husband Guy Ritchie said he fully supported her decision to adopt