Britney Spears

She has been subject to scrutiny and ridicule throughout her life. As a teenager, journalists repeatedly asked her questions about her breasts and her sex life. As an adult, she was imprisoned under a conservatorship that stripped her of some of the most basic human rights.

For 13 years, she could not see her two sons without approval. Her driving licence was confiscated. She could not choose her meals, and was forbidden from drinking tea or coffee. When she wanted to have a contraceptive intrauterine device (IUD) removed, her request was denied.

The singer told her Instagram followers that she and partner Sam Asghari had "lost our miracle baby".

It comes months after she escaped a legal arrangement that gave her father control over many aspects of her life, including her reproductive health.

The 40-year-old, who has two teenage sons, previously said she wanted a family with personal trainer Asghari.

"It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that we have lost our miracle baby early in the pregnancy," she wrote in a post on Saturday.

She continued: "This is a devastating time for any parent.

The singer told her 40 million Instagram followers she was having a baby with partner Sam Asghari.

The 40-year-old, who has two teenage sons, also revealed she suffered depression during a previous pregnancy.

In June last year, she told a judge her conservatorship prevented her from marrying or removing her birth control.

She has previously said she wanted a family with Asghari, a 28-year-old personal trainer.

A judge in Los Angeles on Friday ended the guardianship set up by the 39-year-old's father in 2008 "effective today".

Fans had gathered outside the LA court to support the singer, who had described the set up as abusive.

Her father earlier said it was "necessary", but agreed it was time for her "to re-take control of her life".

"Her life was in shambles and she was in physical, emotional, mental and financial distress," lawyers representing Jamie Spears said in earlier court filings.

Jamie Spears was appointed her guardian in 2008, amid concerns over her mental health. On Wednesday, a judge handed the role to a man appointed by Spears.

Earlier this month, Spears had filed to end the conservatorship after his daughter requested another guardian.

Fans around the world have supported her through the #FreeBritney campaign.

In a court hearing in Los Angeles, Judge Brenda Penny formally ended the conservatorship that the star had with her father, but left in place a separate conservatorship with an accountant chosen by Spears' legal team.

The singer posted a video of the couple showing off the ring on Instagram.

The 39-year-old is fighting a legal battle to end her 13-year conservatorship, which controls both her personal life and finances.

Spears has revealed that the terms of the arrangement are preventing her from marrying Mr Asghari, 27, or having more children.

The conservatorship arrangement was imposed in 2008 when concerns were raised over her mental health.

The star's new lawyer petitioned the court on Monday, a month after Spears broke her public silence on the arrangement, calling it "abusive".

In court papers, Mathew S. Rosengart described the conservatorship as a "Kafkaesque nightmare".

He asked for accountant Jason Rubin to be named conservator of Spears' estate.

The estate was listed as having cash assets of $2.7 million (£1.95 million) and non-cash assets of more than $57 million (£41 million).

"I'm here to press charges. I'm angry and I will go there," the singer said over a lawyer's phone on Wednesday.

Her emotional statement came as a Los Angeles judge ruled Spears can choose her own lawyer in her fight to end the controversial legal arrangement.

A conservatorship is granted by a court for individuals who are unable to make their own decisions.

Conservatorship abuse can involve financially exploiting or imposing excessive personal restrictions on someone in your care.

Larry Rudolph, who helped Spears secure her first recording contract, said the star's "intention to officially retire" had prompted him to resign.

The move comes two weeks after Spears told an LA judge that she had been forced to perform against her will.

She is currently seeking to end a conservatorship that has governed her life and finances since 2008.

Rudolph announced his intention to resign in a letter to the star's father, Jamie Spears, and co-conservator Jodi Montgomery.

On Wednesday, the singer told a Los Angeles judge being under an "abusive" conservatorship left her "traumatised".

The arrangement prevents Spears from controlling many aspects of her life.

"After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time," said Timberlake, who dated Spears two decades ago.

"Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what's happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body."