19 JANUARY 2005

Britney Spears has set tongues wagging in the world of pop by going shopping for maternity wear. The chart-topping singer, who has made no secret of her desire to start a family, was snapped picking up some new threads at Babystyle in Santa Monica.

The songstress is even reported to have told staff in the boutique she was expecting. Just a few months ago she published an open letter on her website declaring her intention to become a parent. "A lot of people think you should wait until you're older before you have kids," she wrote. "The only thing I haven't done so far is experience the closest thing to God and that's have a baby. I can't wait!"

While it has yet to be confirmed whether or not she is pregnant, one thing there is no doubt about is her status as the princess of pop. The 23-year-old has just sold her 60 millionth album, meaning that she has shifted more records in the past five years than any other woman in the industry.

Even the iconic Madonna hasn't been able to keep up. But the Material Girl obviously isn't feeling disgruntled, because she has called on her fellow chanteuse to star in a movie version of her children's book The English Roses. Britney will reportedly be voicing the lead role in the flick, which will also feature David Bowie and the controversial rapper Snoop Dogg.

• /2003/09/05/britneyspears
• /2003/08/19/britneyspears
• /2003/06/23/britneyspears