Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden split up, breaking engagement after four years

In happier times at at Save the Children auction. Picture: Adam Ward

• Delta and Brian "regretfully announce" split
• Decision "made with a lot of soul searching"
• Couple have been together for seven years

BRIAN McFadden's insecurities over "Princess" Delta Goodrem have been blamed for the end of their seven-year relationship.
Goodrem is understood to have called off her engagement to McFadden last week after months of drifting apart, the Herald Sun reported.
McFadden, 30, and Goodrem, 26, confirmed their engagement and relationship was finished in a joint statement yesterday.
"This decision has been made with a lot of soul searching from both parties with the realisation that they have grown apart," the statement said.
"They leave the partnership with respect for one and other, wishing each other success and happiness for the future."
Friends said McFadden had found life difficult in Delta's golden shadow and had struggled to balance the public's adoration of her, while he was constantly painted as a reckless bad boy.
"In some ways, it was hard for him to be the back seat to the Delta Show," one said.
"No one could live up to that expectation."
Both parties are said to be heartbroken over the split.
Yesterday, McFadden tweeted:

BrianMcFaddeni love delta and always will. She is one of gods living angels. I thank her for giving me the best years of my life. Please give us time x

Pals insist the split was mutual and no third parties were involved.
But one close friend added: "The writing had been on the wall for quite a while".
While Goodrem has spent almost a decade as Australian pop's golden child, McFadden has been dogged by controversy, a string of Twitter wars and headline-making behaviour.
In February, Federal Police were called to meet him at an airport following allegations of being abusive to staff, drunken behaviour and smoking on a V Australia flight from LA - all of which McFadden has denied.
Last week, the Grand Prix celebrity driver caused a scene at Melbourne's Rockpool restaurant - walking out after verbally abusing staff.
On the track, he was also reckless, running ironman Shannon Eckstein off the road in a preliminary race.
McFadden will be taken out by friends this weekend in Sydney to drown his sorrows, while Goodrem is understood to be holed up in Los Angeles. Fellow Aussie, presenter Renee Bargh, has been comforting the Lost Without You singer.