Michael Jackson’s kids to go to school for the first time

After living most of their lives behind closed doors, being schooled by tutors and wearing veils in public, Michael Jackson’s three children will go to school for the first time.

Almost a year after their dad’s sudden death on June 25 last year, Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8 have been enrolled in a private school, their grandmother and legal guardian Katherine Jackson tellsThe Mail on Sunday.

“I’d say I’m a little less strict but I’ve tried to follow the way Michael was raising them,” the 80-year-old says in her first interview since Michael’s death.

“But they don’t have friends. They don’t go to school. They have private lessons at home.

“They’ll be going to a private school in September for the first time.”

Katherine adds that all three children take after Michael in their own ways. Paris plays the piano and wants to be an actress, Prince is interested in the arts and wants to be a film producer and Blanket shares his dad’s sense of playfulness.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Michael Jackson’s Children To Appear At Pre-Grammy Event

Paris Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson at Michael Jackson's tribute Photo: Harrison Funk/ Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Paris and Prince Jackson expected to accept Lifetime Achievement Award for their father at Special Merit Awards ceremony Saturday. Two of Michael Jackson’s three children, Prince and Paris, are rumored to be making an appearance at the Grammys’ Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award for their father, CNN reports. The ceremony will be held Saturday night, the night before the Grammy Awards, which will feature a tribute to the late King of Pop.

As of now, Blanket is not expected to take the stage with his older siblings, but sources close to the Jacksons tell CNN that may change. “The whole world is waiting to see these children blossom,” Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Joe Jackson, said.

This would mark the first public appearance from the Jackson kids since their father’s memorial service last summer, during which Paris spoke movingly about missing her father. CNN disputes reports that the children will sing and dance at the show. A video of the award presentation is expected to be shown at the Grammys.

The Jackson children will be joined by his mother, Katherine. Sources say that his father, Joe, will not be in attendance, reportedly because he is angry about the behind-the-scenes decision to have the children appear at the awards show. According to CNN the children were asked to accept the award earlier this week after Katherine complained that no Jackson family members had been invited.

On Sunday, Carrie Underwood, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson will pay tribute to Jackson during the Grammy telecast. Never-before-seen footage from Jackson’s 3-D film “Earth Song” will be seen. “Hopefully, [the performers are] people that he respected and liked,” Underwood said about the tribute. “I’m just honored they asked me. Of course, we said yes before we knew the details. I’m there, and I think it will be a really cool moment on the show.”

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

‘Where’s Daddy Gone?’

Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Prince Michael II or otherwise known as ‘Blanket,’ didn’t understand what had happened to his father when he was at the memorial.

A friend of Michael’s who was with Blanket at the memorial says it was heart-breaking to hear him ask where his daddy had gone.

Jackson’s long-term friend, former child actor Mark Lester, was with Blanket during the star’s memorial service in Los Angeles’ Staples Center earlier this month when he had to answer the heartbreaking question.

Lester says, “It is obvious to me that Blanket is still unsure about what exactly happened to his father. He said, ‘Where’s Daddy gone? On holiday?’ It was a rhetorical question and it broke my heart.”
Awww, poor little guy. It’s hard to explain to children what happens to you when you die. These kids are going to be thrown into the public a lot more now, than they did when Michael was alive. As crazy as it was that he would cover their faces when they went into public, it doesn’t seem so crazy when you realize he was just protecting his children from the media.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite