Celebrities whose marriages appear on the front page of a magazine are more than twice as likely to get divorced, according to a study.

One in six couples (16 percent) whose wedding featured on the cover of Hello! magazine in the past decade were divorced within six years, compared with a national average of 7 percent.

However, the magazine rejected the suggestion that appearing in its pages was a "curse".

Many couples agree for the weekly title to photograph their wedding ceremony, in deals said to attract large payments and an option for security to prevent anyone intruding on the occasion.

Liz Hurley, the actress, and Arun Nayar, the Indian textile heir, who appeared on the cover twice in 2007, were married for four years before divorcing. Their nuptials cost a reported ￡2 million, said to have been partly funded by the magazine.

Kim Kardashian, a US reality television contestant, was married for less time than any of the other celebrities to feature in the magazine. Her wedding to Kris Humphries, a basketball player, appeared on the title's front page last August. She filed for divorce after 72 days.

The advantages of having a wedding featured in Hello! can include a generous cheque and a formidable security option to prevent the public - and rival publications - catching a sneak glimpse of the bride.

Rosie Nixon, editor of the magazine, said: "The 'curse of Hello!' is a ridiculous concept and totally unfounded."

But Kay Goddard, a former editor, said: “Perhaps they should put a clause in the contract that celebrity couples who divorce within a certain time should repay some of their fee.”

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(Agencies)