BEIJING, July 31 -- Paul Mccartney has filed for divorce from Heather Mills McCartney, formally beginning proceedings in what could be one of Britain's most expensive breakups, newspapers reported Saturday.

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney, co-hosts of the 5th Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Gala, arrive together for the event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California November 15, 2005.  (Photo: Yahoo.com)

    The 64-year-old former Beatle blamed his estranged wife for the split, saying her behavior was unreasonable and argumentative, The Sun and The Daily Mirror reported. Her spokesman, Phil Hall, said she was unhappy about the reports.

    "Heather's going to be filing her own counterclaims about matters," Hall said in a statement.

    "She is hugely disappointed that matters of such a confidential nature should be aired in public and feels it is inappropriate to speak about such delicate matters when a child is involved."

    The couple have a 2-year-old daughter, Beatrice.

    McCartney, who does not have a prenuptial agreement to protect his estimated US$1.5 billion fortune, has hired lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who represented Prince Charles in his divorce from Princess Diana.

    McCartney was photographed Friday without his wedding ring during a visit to his performing arts school in Liverpool.

    The couple married in June 2002, four years after McCartney's first wife, Linda, died of breast cancer. Linda and Paul married in 1969 and had three children.

    McCartney and Mills McCartney met at a charity event in 1999.

    (Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)