Madonna's Escape From New York

Madonna leaves her apartment this afternoon. (INF)

Madonna, at the center of a media frenzy since it was announced that she and Guy Ritchie are to divorce, skipped town this afternoon to head to her next concert date — leaving her exclusive New York City apartment building in a swirl of gossip.

According to the Times of London, The Material Girl has hired Prince Charles' divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton to represent her.  Shackleton also repped Sir Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills.

Last night, even before news of the split had officially broken, there was already a crowd of photographers waiting at her house for her when she arrived home late, looking exhausted but wearing a brave smile.

Click here for OK!'s gallery of Madonna pics!

And today, even though the Hung Up star has a concert date at the TD Bank North Garden in Boston tonight, she stayed holed-up in her huge Upper West Side apartment until the very last minute, only making a dash for the airport at 2.30pm in time for an 8pm show.  

One neighbor from the building, where Madonna has lived for some ten years, said: "I last saw her when the news about her and Alex Rodriguez broke. She was coming in the main door and looking very tired and worn down.

"But she must have been doing this for 30 years now, so a little scandal is nothing new to her by now.

"We love having her in the building. My friends love it when I can give them Madonna updates, like when she's changed her hair or if she's looking haggard!"

"Until now, I hadn't believed the rumors that their marriage was in trouble. They seem like such a good family," said a resident of the building next door, who occasionally sees the family in the area.

"The children always seem very well-brought-up. It's very sad for them."

Click here for OK!'s gallery of Madonna pics!

The Material Girl, who has been married to Guy for eight years, is set to play two dates of her Sticky and Sweet tour in Boston, before heading to Canada for the next leg in Toronto.