Britney Spears deletes Instagram and takes social media break to celebrate engagement

Britney Spears has deleted her Instagram account and announced she is "taking a little break from social media".

The 39-year-old singer – who announced this week that she is engaged to her 27-year-old personal trainer boyfriend Sam Asghari – initially sparked concern among fans when her Instagram account disappeared.

But a message on Spears' Twitter account reassured them: "Don’t worry folks … just taking a little break from social media to celebrate my engagement !!!! I’ll be back soon."

She has been very active on social media in recent years with some fans believing she sent secret messages through her posts.

The Toxic singer has been dating Asghari since they met in 2016 on the set of her music video for Slumber Party.

Read more: Britney Spears shares 'freedom' message as dad agrees to step down as conservator

Spears announced her engagement on Instagram by sharing a video of herself flashing a diamond ring on her engagement finger and dancing with the caption: "I can't f***ing believe it!!!!!!!"

The pop princess has been in the headlines in recent weeks over her bid to have her father Jamie Spears removed from his role in overseeing her conservatorship, and recently described her situation as "abusive" in court testimony.

However, reports in the US say that Jamie has agreed to step aside and will participate in an "orderly transition" to a new arrangement.

Spears recently told a judge during testimony in the court case: "I want to be able to get married and have a baby."

The ...Baby One More Time singer is mother to sons Sean, 15, and Jayden, 15, with ex-husband Kevin Federline. The couple split in 2006 and he has 70% custody of their children.

Her father Jamie has been in charge of his daughter’s estate since 2008. He also oversaw the Slave 4 U singer’s personal affairs, but left that role in 2019.

The conservatorship was put in place in 2008 to protect the singer due to her ill mental health.

This has led to the Free Britney movement: a legion of fans who believe the singer is being kept in unfair conditions under the conservatorship.

Spears — who entered the spotlight at the age of 11 on Disney’s The Mickey Mouse Club — suffered from the pressures of fame and work and had a very public breakdown in 2007.

After being put into her father’s care in 2008 she went on to revive her career, appearing as a judge on the US version of The X Factor, performing several hit world tours and starring in a successful Las Vegas residency.

Her family have argued she was placed under the conservatorship for her own protection as she was mentally ill and "vulnerable" to being manipulated for her fortune.

Read more: Britney Spears says sorry to fans for pretending like I've been okay

However, she pulled out of a second Las Vegas run due to stress and has not performed since October 2018.

Watch: Britney Spears reveals engagement