Sophie Turner has launched a legal challenge against estranged husband Joe Jonas to try to have their two children moved back to Britain.

In documents filed to the US District Court in New York yesterday, 27-year-old Game Of Thrones star Ms Turner is petitioning “for the return of children to England”.

It has been alleged that he was refusing to agree to this. Turner filed the lawsuit to “secure the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained” by Jonas.

Indirect references to the word “abduction” in the petition were condemned last night by a spokesman for Jonas, 34.

The US singer filed for divorce in Miami, Florida, earlier this month. The couple had been married for four years and have two daughters, Willa, three and DJ, 14 months. Ms Turner also alleges that the former couple had plans for her and the children to join Jonas and his family on his band’s US tour before returning to Britain, where they would live in a rental property until a new home was completed in December.

She referred to Britain as the family’s “habitual residence”.

The actress also disputed Jonas’s claim in his divorce filings that the children had lived in Florida for six months before the split was announced.

Various sources claiming “direct knowledge” of the situation have briefed US news sites, including TMZ, that Jonas was looking after his children while on tour — while Ms Turner filmed for ITV crime drama Joan in the UK.

TMZ also reported that Jonas is said to have known his marriage was over when Ms Turner was allegedly caught “saying and/or doing something” on a security camera.

It was also reported by TMZ that Jonas is said to have known his marriage was over when Ms Turner was allegedly caught “saying and/or doing something” on a security camera. Credit: Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Reports that painted Jonas as a devoted father and Ms Turner as an alleged party animal prompted several columns defending the actress and questioning why the musician was being praised for looking after his children.

Ms Turner made headlines when she enjoyed a girls’ night out with her ex-husband’s ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift in New York. The pair enjoyed a low-key dinner at restaurant Via Carota. Grammy winner Ms Swift dated Jonas from July 2008 until October that year.

In his filing for divorce two weeks ago, Jonas sought joint custody of the girls and said that he and his estranged wife have a prenuptial agreement that he expects to be enforced.

A spokesman for Jonas said last night: “This is an unfortunate legal disagreement about a marriage that is sadly ending. When language like ‘abduction’ is used, it is misleading at best and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst. The children were not abducted. After being in Joe’s care for the past three months at the agreement of both parties, the children are currently with their mother. Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and permanently remove the children from the US.”

Ms Turner made headlines earlier this week when she enjoyed a girls’ night out with her ex-husband’s ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift in New York. The pair enjoyed a low-key dinner at restaurant Via Carota. Grammy winner Ms Swift dated Jonas from July 2008 until October that year. Credit: BeautifulSignatureIG/Shutterst