Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have split after seven years of marriage.

The couple – who have three-year-old twins, Max and Emme, together – have decided to call time on their relationship after they both agreed on the “difficult decision”.

In a statement released to People magazine, Jennifer and Marc – who wed in June 2004 – said: “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters.

“It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.”

Jennifer – who has been married twice before – recently spoke of her contentment in her personal life now she was a wife and mother.

The 41-year-old beauty said: “I’m in a really happy, good place now, and when you have babies, you feel a different kind of love to anything you’ve experienced – deeper, more profound.

“No matter how much experience you have in love, you’re always learning new things about it; you’re always going to have questions you can never fully answer. I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been in my life and my husband and my babies have everything to do with that.”