Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, created a poignant and enduring tribute to her father during the family's private viewing of his open coffin. She wrapped one half of a heart necklace around his wrist, ensuring he always had a reminder of her, as revealed by Michael's elder sister, La Toya. Recounting the moving moment from last Monday, La Toya shared, "Paris told me, 'The heart is in two pieces. I want one half to go to daddy, and I will wear the other half forever.' She carefully wrapped it around his wrist and said, 'Daddy, this is for you.'"
La Toya also mentioned that Paris, who was seen wearing her half of the heart charm around her neck at her father's memorial service, pays daily tribute to him by writing "sweet, lovely letters about how much she loves him." Reflecting on Michael's parenting, La Toya added, "Michael was a very good parent. It was funny seeing him changing nappies because you never imagine him that way. But Michael was very hands-on. He was quite an expert."
Currently, Paris is residing at the Jackson family home in Encino, California, with her two brothers, 12-year-old Prince Michael and seven-year-old Blanket, under the care of their paternal grandmother, Katherine, in accordance with Michael's will. A hearing scheduled to determine the guardianship of the three youngsters, initially set for this Monday, has been delayed by a week and is now scheduled for July 20. Reports indicate that 79-year-old Katherine and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Paris and Prince Michael, are collaborating to broker an out-of-court settlement that excludes Joe Jackson, Michael's father, from involvement in the children's upbringing. Under this arrangement, Katherine will continue to raise the children, while Debbie, who plans to drop her custody claim, will have regular access, according to a British newspaper. A source close to Debbie's attorney, representing her during her marriage to Michael from 1996 to 1999, told the Sunday Mirror, "The last thing she wanted was for those kids to be looked after by Joe and go through what Michael went through." The source added, "When they were together, Michael poured out his heart about how much he loathed Joe for what he had done. And Katherine knows it is best for the children if they can settle between themselves and keep it out of the courts."
