A year has already gone by since Michael Jackson's death, and the world continues to mourn the late King of Pop. His family is still very devastated by his untimely passing, especially his kids Prince Michael I, 13, Paris, 12, and eight-year-old Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket. The kids prepared for the anniversary of their dad's death by spending time at the beach in Hawaii before venturing home for the memorial festivities.
The children were being looked after by their grandmother and Michael's mother Katherine Jackson, who is their legal guardian. Prince Michael and Blanket were seen looking cheerful and went swimming in the sea with other children yesterday, but Paris didn’t join in the ocean fun and instead chose to relax by a hotel pool.
Today, they are set to return to the Jacksons’ hometown of Gary, Indiana, where a monument is to be unveiled in Michael's honor outside the home where he grew up. After the statue has been revealed a memorial and candlelight vigil will take place ending with a rendition of the song "We Are The World."
Katherine admitted she still struggles to accept her pop star son is gone, saying: “A year has gone by but it is still just as emotional. It's very hard sometimes. I am happy that people are celebrating the anniversary because I know the world is missing and remembering him. But every day is a struggle – I miss him immensely."
Michael died on June 25, 2009 aged 50 from acute Propofol intoxication.
Michael Jackson's eldest children spread a simple – yet powerful – message at Sunday's Grammy Awards while accepting their late father's Lifetime Achievement Award midway through the live telecast.
"Through all his songs, [our father's] message was simple: love," Prince Michael, 12, said on stage at the Staples Center, surrounded by his cousins and sister Paris, 11. "We will continue to spread his message and help the world."
In an emotional moment during a performance-heavy telecast, the late King of Pop's children thanked fans for their support after Jackson's death on June 25th. "We are proud to accept this award on behalf of our father," Prince Michael said. "We'd like to thank God for watching over us for these past seven months and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support. We would also like to thank the fans; our father loved you so much because you were always there for him."
His sister, Paris, who gave a touching tribute to her father at his memorial service over the summer, told the crowd, "Daddy was going to perform this here [last year]," then said, "Thank you. We love you, Daddy."
Moments earlier, Lionel Richie introduced the segment, which began with a powerhouse collaboration, featuring Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson, who sang Jackson's "Earth Song" backed by images of nature and featuring vocals recorded by Jackson. The segment was also filmed in 3-D, with glasses available for viewers to pick up from Target before the show.
"In the song we're about to hear, Michael beautifully expresses the need for our humanity to be in greater harmony with Mother Earth," Richie said.
"Earth Song" was scheduled to be included in Jackson's July 2009 comeback concerts in London, and part of the video clip was included in the recent documentary, This Is It. It also marks the first time an awards show featured a 3-D performance.
Before Sunday's Grammy Awards, the late singer's father, Joe Jackson, expressed pride that his grandchildren would be at the ceremony, representing the family.
"I am very proud that my son, Michael Jackson, is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammys," he said. "I am very proud of my grandchildren. Katherine and I are the ones that [have] initiated their participation."
As the Grammy Awards prepare to honor the late King of Pop with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Joe Jackson says he is proud to have his grandchildren accept the award on his son's behalf.
According to reports, Michael Jackson's two eldest children, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael, 12, are scheduled to take the stage at Saturday's Special Merit Awards ceremony at L.A.'s Wilshire Ebell Theater.
"I am very proud that my son, Michael Jackson, is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammy," Joe Jackson said in a statement Saturday. "However, there [have] been some recent rumors that I am displeased with the idea that Michael's children are accepting the award on my son's behalf. On the contrary, I am very proud of my grandchildren. Katherine and I are the ones that [have] initiated their participation."
But it remains unclear whether the children will make an appearance, as other reports claim, onstage for the Grammy telecast on Sunday.
The tribute planned for the telecast includes a 3-D film clip the pop sensation made before his death in June and performances by Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson.
"I thank the Recording Academy for their honor and know that Michael would have been very pleased to receive such recognition," Joe Jackson continued. "I am very proud of my family and I will continue to seek justice for my son."
Watch the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards tommorrow (Sunday, January 31st) at 8:00 pm (ET), live on CBS.
Michael Jackson's kids: Paris Katherine, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II at their father's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California on Tuesday, July 7th.
As the star-studded tribute to the King of Pop concluded, Michael Jackson’s own children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II (Blanket), 7, took the stage during a group performance of “Heal the World.”
After the song, Paris gave an impromptu speech from the stage surrounded by the Jackson family.
“I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine,” she said through tears. “And I just want to say I love him so much.”
Her aunt Janet Jackson then took her into her arms for a hug before the entire Jackson family then left the stage, closing the service that lasted more than two hours.
The moving tribute was especially startling because it marked one of the first times Jackson’s daughter has ever been heard publicly.
Paris and her siblings are also the subject of an ongoing custody dispute. Currently, her grandmother Katherine Jackson has been granted temporary custody of the three children, but Debbie Rowe has parental rights over the eldest children which she may choose to exercise.
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A year has already gone by since Michael Jackson's death, and the world continues to mourn the late King of Pop. His family is still very devastated by his untimely passing, especially his kids Prince Michael I, 13, Paris, 12, and eight-year-old Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket. The kids prepared for the anniversary of their dad's death by spending time at the beach in Hawaii before venturing home for the memorial festivities.
