Madonna is celebrating a major milestone with her family, her daughter Lourdes' 29th birthday. Alongside a series of throwback photos and selfies through the years, the pop icon posted a touching message to her eldest child, sharing her love and appreciation for Lourdes.
"Happy Birthday Lolita! Light of my Life. Never forget who you are Little Star," she wrote. "Shining brighter than all the stars in the sky," Madonna added. "Never forget how to dream Butterfly. Never forget where you come from. From Love."
© Pascal Le SegretainLourdes, whom Madonna shares with fitness trainer Carlos Leon, is the eldest of her six children. Following her split from Leon in 1997, Madonna welcomed Rocco, now 25, with director Guy Ritchie in 2000. She later adopted David, 20, Mercy, 19, and 13-year-old twins Stella and Estere.
Just a few weeks ago, Lourdes helped Madonna ring in her 67th birthday with a lavish celebration in Siena, Italy. The event, which featured dancers, custom outfits, family moments, and a standout Labubu cake, was centered around Madonna’s long-time dream of watching the Palio horse race on her birthday.
© Madonna/Instagram"My Dream for many years has been to watch the Palio horse race in Siena that takes place on my birthday, August 16, since 1482!!" Madonna shared in a birthday post.
© Madonna/InstagramIn an Instagram reel from the party, she included moments with her children, Lourdes, Rocco, David Banda, and Mercy, as well as appearances by boyfriend Akeem Morris. A clip of Mercy playing the piano and another of Madonna dancing with her daughters added to the night’s highlights. Lourdes was photographed smiling and celebrating with her mother throughout the night.
The celebration also featured a towering, pink Labubu-themed cake, topped with a giant Labubu figure and an inscription that read, “Happy birthday Madudu.” The post drew comments from high-profile names like Katy Perry ("MY QUEEN") and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ("Happy happy birthday").
© Madonna/InstagramBack in May, Madonna shared more candid insights into motherhood while posting about her Mother’s Day weekend. “I spent Mother’s Day weekend with 5 of my 6 children. Sunshine laughter, horseback riding. soccer, and the sound of music!” she wrote. “The best gift they gave me was the gift of not arguing and being loving to one another. When you raise children to be unique and opinionated, you also create your own debate team!!!”
© Madonna/InstagramShe added, “Motherhood could never be described with a few words. Nothing can prepare you. Happy Mother’s Day !! To All the Women out there doing the Heavy Lifting !” Despite the joy, Madonna has never sugar-coated the complexities of parenting.
© Stephane Cardinale - CorbisSpeaking to Vanity Fair in early 2023, she called motherhood "the most difficult, the hardest battle.” "Today I am still struggling to understand how to be a mother and do my job," she admitted.
"Because, whoever you are, having children and raising them is a work of art. And no one gives you a manual. You have to learn from mistakes. It is a profession that requires a lot of time. And it is exhausting because there is never rest."
