Washington, Apr 7 : Madonna, who returned to London after a judge rejected her bid to adopt 4-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James from Malawi, was met by her ex-husband.

The 50-year-old met the British director Guy Ritchie, at a London airport, where he took their sons -- Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3 -- so that she could have some space while the court takes action on her appeal, a source tells Usmagazine. com.

Mercy''s uncle, Peter Baneti, said that he hopes the courts will reconsider the adoption.

"I''m just very surprised that this has happened," Baneti told Us.

"And I''m so sad for Mercy. This was her chance for a better life and I think this has been taken away from her now," he added. (ANI)