Is it just us, or has Guy Ritchie piled on the pounds since his split from Madonna?

… Because there’s just the hint of a second chin in this picture, taken outside the director’s London pub last night.

Perhaps he’s just enjoying the freedom to eat what he wants after being forced to stick to a macriobotic diet with the Material Girl.

Good for you guy!

Maybe Madonna was a little hasty ditching Guy Ritchie….

Would the Queen of Pop have kicked him to the curb if she knew he was a mere hop and a skip from the English throne?

According to a 1911 UK census, the director is a  direct descendant of King Edward I.

Queen Madonna, Her Royal Madgeness…. has a ring to it!

Guy Ritchie still loves Madonna.

A year on from their divorce, Guy is ready to talk about his ex, and he has good (kinda) things to say about her.

He tells Esquire, “I still love her. But she’s retarded, too.”

We’re sure she’ll apprciated that…

Has Justin Timberlake got a competitive streak?

No sooner has his girlfriend signed up to star in a one-off production of musical Guys & Dolls — JT’s gone one better, and landed a role in a movie version of the same play.

According to The Sun director Guy Ritchie wants Timberlake — who’s close pals with his ex Madonna – to star in his upcoming adaptation.

A source says, ”Guy thought (Justin) was impressive in Alpha Dog. He likes his personality. Justin would be ideal for Guys and Dolls because he can act, dance and sing….a great box office draw, as well as a safe bet to sell the soundtrack.”
 
We’re not sure how well that sits with Biel, who’s gearing up for her role as a Doll at the Hollywood Bowl on August 2nd.

Maybe Ritchie can keep them both happy and find a role for Jessica too.

Kate Hudson’s rumored relationship with baseball star Alex Rodriguez is apparently heating up — the New York Yankees third baseman has allegedly started introducing the actress to his best friends.

The Almost Famous star (above, enjoying the house beverage at the 2nd Annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic last weekend) has been linked to Rodriguez for the last few weeks, and has been spotted in the crowd at recent Yankee games, evidently cheering the embattled A-Rod on.

Insiders say the couple is about to make their romance public; Hudson has allegedly introduced Rodriguez to her five-year-old son, Ryder.  A source told People, “It’s somewhat serious.  He introduced her to a bunch of his friends.”

Rodriguez was previously linked to Madonna around the time of her split with director Guy Ritchie, though both parties denied a relationship; Hudson, who shares Ryder with ex-husband Chris Robinson, recently split from on-again off-again boyfriend Owen Wilson.

We don’t know what to think of the pairing, provided we believe it’s real, which we’re not sure we do — Rodriguez is a great player, but he’s neurotic AND boring, not to mention a kerfuffle magnet.  Hudson’s role in Wilson’s recent emotional troubles is unclear, but her ability to make one cookie-cutter, vanilla, third-place-box-office rom-com after another is undisputed.  So now that we think about it, they’re kind of perfect for each other: pretty, vaguely annoying, and unlucky in love.  Buena suerte, kids!