15 SEPTEMBER 2003
Madonna has launched her new book The English Roses with a celebrity tea-party in London. A host of British personalities turned out along with their families as Madge, joined by her own little ones Lourdes and Rocco, read extracts from her first children's tome.

Guests at the Kensington bash included Stella McCartney, Kate Moss and EastEnders stars Patsy Palmer and Michelle Collins. The author herself arrived fashionably late, though husband Guy Ritchie was already there, along with three-year-old Rocco.

The book, which was inspired by the esoteric Jewish teachings of Kaballah, tells the story of four 11-year-olds who feel envious of another girl in their neighbourhood. And the subject of their jealousy, Binah, was based on the author's own little girl, Lourdes.

"In school children can be quite mean and ostracise her because I'm her mother," explained the 45-year-old pop star. "Everyone thinks, 'She's got everything so we won't pay any attention to her'... So sometimes I think (Lourdes) needs to be bigger than she is."

Speaking to journalists at the event, Madonna also rejected the suggestion that she's not a good role model for children. The performer kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during a recent MTV appearance, but she insisted: "It was the kind of kiss you would give your sister."

The Material Girl's latest venture has already broken publishing records by being translated into 30 languages for immediate sale in 100 countries. One million copies of the book, which is the first of a six-part series, go on sale on Monday.