Nicole Richie ‘splashes out on lingerie’

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden reportedly make intimacy top of their priority list.

The loved up couple are proud parents to daughter Harlow, six, and four-year-old son Sparrow, but don't let their little ones put a dampener on their love life.

Friends say their union is stronger than ever, and the pair never allow distance to get in the way of their relationship.

"Intimacy is a priority for them," an insider revealed to the American addition of OK! magazine.

"Nicole likes to buy lingerie to spice things up. She spends a good $20,000 a year [on lingerie]. Even with Joel shooting The Voice in Australia for months at a time, they Skype and text daily to keep the spark alive."

When the two stars first hooked up in 2006, many thought it would soon fizzle out.

They got married in December 2010, with the insider claiming the children's upbringing was a bone of contention at first.

"Nobody though the relationship would last," the insider added.

"Nicole is adamant that the kids eat organic, whereas Joel would feed them doughnuts and Doritos."

Despite the doubts, Nicole, 32, and her 35-year-old Good Charlotte rocker husband are thought to have one of the strongest partnerships in showbiz.

"Their marriage isn't perfect, but unlike many Hollywood couples, they've found a way to keep the passion alive.

"They genuinely love each other and will keep doing everything in their power to make their relationship last," the insider added.