SINGER Katy Perry told friends in January that her nine-year relationship with movie star Orlando Bloom was over.
The couple, who share daughter Daisy, four, have since been unsuccessfully trying to save their romance.
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US star Katy, 40, has taken off her engagement ring as she and her Brit fiancé, 48, have struggled to find time to see each other with their busy working lives.
Orlando, who famously paddled in the nude with bikini-clad Katy in 2016, is set to attend their friend Jeff Bezos’s wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Italy this week alone.
Katy will remain in Australia where she is on tour.
A source close to the couple said: “Katy confided in friends at the start of the year that their relationship was as good as done.
“They decided to hold off on announcing anything in case things improved between them, because they are desperate to stay together for the sake of their daughter.
“But they have spent barely any time together this year, with Katy on tour and Orlando working on his upcoming film Bucking Fastard in Dublin.
“She knew that taking off her engagement ring would send a clear message.
“It’s been a hard year so far. They wanted to wait until the tour is over before they made their split official, although Katy has grown tired of the situation.”
The couple started dating in 2016 and got engaged three years later. However, The Sun understands they had difficult conversations about their future over Christmas and in January but struggled to make a firm decision.
Reps for the couple refused to comment when approached about their separation in February and again this week.
Watch first video inside Blue Origin space trip as Katy Perry and crew hang upside down & marvel at the moon
Neither publicly acknowledged each other on social media on Valentine’s Day — the sixth anniversary of their engagement.
Their last public appearance was at the Vanity Fair Oscars bash in March.
The source called it a “massive shock” to friends when Katy revealed their relationship was in trouble, adding: “Everyone thought that they were tighter than tight.”
This week, Orlando has flown to Australia to spend time with Katy and their daughter as the star continues her Lifetimes Tour.
The singer recently hinted on stage in Sydney that all was not well behind the scenes.
She was handed a pack of Australian Tim Tam chocolate biscuits, which she opened during her 2008 track I’m Still Breathing.
She told the crowd: “This song is about a break-up, and this Tim Tam saved me. Thank you.”
Katy previously had a short-lived marriage to comedian Russell Brand, 50, from 2010 to 2012.
Orlando was married to Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr, 42, from 2010 to 2013 and they share a son, Flynn, 14.
The insider rubbished rumours Katy and Orlando had an argument over her Blue Origin space flight in April.
They said: “That’s nonsense. The truth is that their relationship has been on shaky ground for a long time now.
“Going to space was a welcome distraction from what was going on, if nothing else.”
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