Benji And Sophie Split, Paris Moves In

Benji Madden and fiancée Sophie Monk have officially split!

The couple met on the set of a Good Charlotte video in mid 2006, where the starlet and the tattooed rocker embarked on a whirlwind romance which peaked with a marriage proposal six months later at Monk's Gold Coast home. It was the perfect completion to Monk's fairytale move to Hollywood and helped mark her transition from fledging Aussie pop star to bona fide US celebrity. Recently, Sophie declared, she was "the happiest I've ever been", while Monk and her man were in tune at the Australian MTV Awards in April when they arrived as a star quartet alongside Benji's twin brother Joel and his A-list partner Nicole Richie.

Yet by the end of 2007 there was more rock 'n' roll in the union. See how we broke the story. It began when Madden did not accompany his fiancee to Oz and the obvious strain on their relationship is now believed to be the explanation behind Monk's botched AFI red carpet performance and 11th hour withdrawal from Channel 9's Carols by Candelight.

Meanwhile, not wasting any time, Paris Hilton has just announced her engagement to Sophie’s [still fresh] ex, Benji Madden – after being seen canoodling at the Ritz in St Louis and sharing a flight back to La with him. Sheesh, talk about a quick engagement. What the hell did they talk about on that plane?

And now let me guess how this all plays out – in Paris’ mind anyway – she’ll get engaged, preggers, and married, and live happily ever after. Yeah right.