Seal and Heidi Klum split after 'growing apart'

In a statement, the couple revealed they have decided to separate after "much soul searching", blaming the break-up on "growing apart".

They appealed for privacy and stressed that the break-up is "amicable".

The couple, who married in 2005, have four children together, including Klum's daughter from a previous relationship.

The pair famously renewed their vows on every wedding anniversary.

The joint statement read: "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul searching we have decided to separate.

"We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart.

"This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition.

"We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children's sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy."

Kiss From A Rose singer Seal has previously described his wife, who has a tattoo of his name on her arm, as his best friend.

The couple first got together in 2004 when Klum was pregnant with daughter Leni, who is from a previous relationship with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

Seal, 48, and Klum, 38, married on a beach in Mexico in May 2005, shortly after announcing she was pregnant with their son Henry.

Grammy award-winning Seal has recently been promoting his latest album, Soul 2.

The performer, whose real name is Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, appeared last week on the Jonathan Ross Show.

Klum became well known modelling lingerie for Victoria's Secret and in 2010 was ranked higher than the Queen in a Forbes list of the world's most powerful women.

She and Seal often dressed in elaborate Halloween outfits and last year donned matching monkey costumes for Klum's New York bash.