Boy Adopted By Madonna Arrives In U.K.

But Diva Faces Threatened Court Hearing Challenging Custody

(CBS/AP)  Police officers escorted the African infant being adopted by Madonna off a British Airways flight Tuesday, whisking him past photographers hoping to get a glimpse of the baby as he made his way to the pop star's home.

One-year-old David Banda was carried off the Boeing 747 and into the arms of a woman – reportedly, a nanny - who covered his head with a light gray coat.

Three armed police officers together with airline and airport officials escorted the party through Heathrow's Terminal 1 to the baggage hall. From there they were taken out of a back door and put into a silver Mercedes minivan.

The pop star and her husband, Guy Ritchie, were not seen at the airport.

Little David had to run the papparazzi gauntlet when he arrived. Whatever the pressures of the modern celebrity fishbowl, the child, it's argued by some adoptions groups, stands a much better chance in life here.

"A family, wherever it may happen to be, even if its not as good, even if its not perfect, but if it is of sufficient quality and has been assessed as such, then that has to be better than institutional care," Stevan Whitehead, a spokesman from Oasis, Overseas Adoption Support Group told CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

The boy left his native Malawi as human rights and child protection groups said they would go to court Tuesday to challenge the speedy court decision awarding Madonna temporary custody of the child.

Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's publicist in New York, said the child was issued a passport and a visa Monday.

"This interim adoption grants David's new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country," she said. "It is expected that the family will be reunited in the next few days."

Rosenberg declined to say when and where the family would be reunited.

Banda was accompanied when he left Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, by two Britons and two Americans, one of whom listed her occupation as nanny, according to a Malawi immigration official at the airport.

Human rights groups are concerned child protection regulations may have been swept aside to benefit a singer who has been generous to the impoverished, AIDS-stricken southern African nation.

Several local child welfare groups had tried to stop the adoption process, or at least slow it down so that the long term benefits for David could examined with less haste.

"He will need to be convinced that this was the best option for him and the only option. If there was a doubt that he could have stayed there, that he could have remainded with this birth family then that is going to be challenge him as he grows up," Chris Atkins, a spokesman from Transnational and Transracial Adoption Group told Phillips.

The Malawi High Court granted preliminary custody to Madonna and Ritchie last week, waiving a law that requires would-be parents to live in the country for a year while social welfare officers investigate their ability to care for a child.

Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, is setting up an orphanage in the country for some of the 1 million AIDS orphans in Malawi.

[jmejia1572]

Let this poor kid have a future.

[license5]

This child has an opportunity for a better life.
Not one of hunger, & illness, but a future with love, a better health, education, and a great chance at life. I commend anyone who tries to better the life of any child. Madonna is doing nothing wrong.

[rjames165]

Good for the kid I guess but who gives a *** what Madonna (is that her first or last name? Anyone care?) does. Good grief isn't enough important news out there without wasting time and space on which celebrity did what to who this week?

[jacqueline41-2009]

I think it's a good thing that Madonna has done this. All children need a home, although I kind of wished she had adopted one from the US, but anyhow she did a good deed. Now everybody leave her and her family alone!!!!!

Congratulations Madonna and Ritchie!!

[moo6robe]

a child is given a chance at life it would be better if an american but let it be

[lorielen8]

My wife is from the Philippines, she has an 8 year old daughter. She started filing for her in August 2004, we went until March 2006 and never heard anything from USCIS. We finally got a lawyer and she said there was a 5 year waiting list. I (being a US Citizen) filed for her in April 2006. We are still trying to get her. USCIS is saying they can't let her come here until they prove she is not a terrorist. I believe I have to follow the red tape, then someone who is a multi-millionaire should do the same regardless of how much money they have, but if Madonna can get her child then why can't I.