British musician Seal and German supermodel Heidi Klum have confirmed they are separating after nearly seven years of marriage.

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 was amicable.

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

The pair famously renewed their vows on every 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.”

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 Ms Klum was pregnant with daughter Leni, who is from a previous relationship with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

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