Mercy Leaves Malawi to Meet Madonna in London

After being granted her adoption last Friday, Madonna's daughter is flown from Malawi to England

By Megan Masters Jun 20, 2009 6:40 PMTags
Mercy James, MadonnaBARM/Fame Pictures , Kristian Dowling/Getty Image

After a whirlwind week for Madonna and Mercy, the material mom is officially adding one more to her brood.

Chifundo "Mercy" James, the pop icon's newly adopted daughter, was reportedly flown out of her native Malawi by private jet on Friday and was expected to meet Madonna in London on Saturday morning. The 4-year old Mercy is said to have been accompanied by a nanny, baby nurse and another children's aide.

A source tells People that the child left South Africa yesterday evening and was on a 10:30 p.m. flight from Johannesburg to London.

Last Friday, Malawi High Court approved an appeal by the songstress to adopt Mercy after a lower court had denied her request. Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo cited Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, which helps provide orphans with food, education and medical care, as part of the reason her petition was granted.

In a recent statement Madge couldn't hide her excitement about bringing home her new daughter: "I am ecstatic...My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her."

Mercy is the second child Madonna has rescued from Malawi, after adopting 3-year-old David Banda from the South African country last year. The adopted pair join older siblings Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, 8, both from previous relationships.