Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow are ‘great mates’

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow are ”still great mates”.

The Coldplay frontman’s father Anthony Martin, 72, insists his son and Hollywood spouse – who announced their separation on Tuesday (03.25.14) – remain close, but he admits their split is ”sad” for his grandchildren Apple, nine, and Moses, seven.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: ”If you are married you know you have good days and bad days. We all have our ups and downs.

”It is sad because there are our two grandchildren. But it is all very amicable between them.”

The dad-of-five said the news is ”sad and upsetting”, but is ”proud” of his son Chris, 37, and daughter-in-law Gwyneth, 41.

He added: ”I am very proud of what they have achieved in their lives.”

Anthony’s own marriage to Chris’ mother Alison, 60, ended three years ago, leaving the singer – who is incredibly close to his father – devastated.

Chris and Gwyneth called time on their 11-year marriage earlier this week after working on their troubled relationship for ”well over a year”.

The ‘Iron Man 3’ actress is expected to live with their kids in Los Angeles, while Chris will shuttle between London and the US.

It’s thought things got so bad between the couple last year that Chris moved out of the couple’s £7 million London home to live in a small studio flat owned by Coldplay bandmate Guy Berryman.