Adele breaks post-divorce silence with heartfelt statement

Adele opened up on the past year of her life with a heartfelt message on Instagram. Photo / Instagram

Singer Adele has celebrated her 31st birthday as a newly single woman following her split from husband of three years Simon Konecki.

The star marked the occasion with a surprisingly honest Instagram post in which she described the past year as "hard" and "complicated" — and even gave fans a tongue-in-cheek insight into her eagerly awaited next album.

"This is 31 … thank f**king god," she wrote.

"30 tried me so hard but I'm owning it and trying my hardest to lean in to it all. No matter how long we're here for life is constant and complicated at times. I've changed drastically in the last couple years and I'm still changing and that's okay," she wrote.

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This is 31...thank fucking god 💀 30 tried me so hard but I’m owning it and trying my hardest to lean in to it all. No matter how long we’re here for life is constant and complicated at times. I’ve changed drastically in the last couple years and I’m still changing and that’s okay. 31 is going to be a big ol’ year and I’m going to spend it all on myself. For the first time in a decade I’m ready to feel the world around me and look up for once. Be kind to yourself people we’re only human, go slow, put your phone down and laugh out loud at every opportunity. Learning to REALLY truly love yourself is it, and I’ve only just realized that that is more than enough. I’ll learn to love you lot eventually 😂 Bunch of fucking savages, 30 will be a drum n bass record to spite you. Chin up eh ❤️

A post shared by Adele (@adele) on May 5, 2019 at 1:16pm PDT

The singer, who has not released an album since 2015, predicted the coming 12 months would be "big" for her.

"31 is going to be a big ol' year and I'm going to spend it all on myself. For the first time in a decade I'm ready to feel the world around me and look up for once," she said.

"Learning to REALLY truly love yourself is it, and I've only just realised that that is more than enough. I'll learn to love you lot eventually," she continued, a teasing reference to her fan base.

"Bunch of f**king savages, 30 will be a drum n bass record to spite you."

It may have been a throwaway joke, but that last line also appeared to confirm Adele's highly anticipated fourth album will follow the pattern of her first three, 19, 21 and 25, in being named after the year she wrote it.

Adele ended her missive on a hopeful note: "Chin up eh." The message was accompanied by a selection of photos of the singer looking very glam, presumably at her 31st birthday celebrations.

Only a very occasional social media user, Adele's surprisingly personal message comes just weeks after her split from husband of three years Konecki was announced. The couple have a six-year-old son, Angelo, together.

"Adele and her partner have separated," the star's spokesman confirmed last month.

"They are committed to raising their son together lovingly.

"As always, they ask for privacy. There will be no further comment."