Rumours that Miller and Getty were getting close started when they were spotted together last month. These only got stronger when he was photographed kissing a topless Sienna in Italy earlier this month.

The father-of-four has now come clean.

"In the light of the fact that many pictures have surfaced in print and on the internet which has caused myself and my family great embarrassment, I felt it necessary to at least acknowledge publicly that yes, indeed, my wife and I have separated and I will not be commenting any further," the Sun quoted Getty, as saying.

"The breakdown of a marriage is a very difficult and painful experience especially when children are involved," he added.

According to grapevine, Rosetta walked out of the family home the moment her husband's romantic fling hit the headlines.

'Casanova' star Sienna Miller was coincidently introduced to Getty, heir to a 25 billion pound oil fortune, through her ex-lover Rhys Ifans who is still heartbroken over the split.