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La Toya Jackson reveals how niece Paris made touching tribute to her father by wrapping one half of a heart necklace around his wrist
Michael's daughter bought a heart necklace that splits into two pieces, one half of which she wrapped around her late dad's wrist and the other which she wears around her neck. She was seen with her part at the pop icon's memorial service (pictured)
Photo: © Rex
Paris Jackson – the 11-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson – made a touching and lasting tribute to her father during the family's private viewing of his open coffin by wrapping one half of a heart necklace around his wrist, it has been revealed.
The late star's elder sister La Toya has spoken about the moving moment, which took place last Monday, saying that her niece made the gesture to make sure her dad always had something to remind him of her.
"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,' revealed La Toya. "She carefully wrapped it around his wrist and said, 'Daddy this is for you'."
La Toya has also said how Paris – who was seen wearing her half of the heart charm around her neck at her dad's memorial service – also pays tribute to her father every day by writing his "sweet lovely letters about how much she loves him."
She went on to say: "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."
For the time being Paris is staying at the Jackson family home in Encino, California with her two brothers, Prince Michael, 12, and seven-year-old Blanket under the care of their paternal grandmother, Katherine, in accordance with Michael's will.
A hearing scheduled to decide who will take care of the three youngsters, meant to take place this Monday, has been delayed by a week and is now due to take place on July 20. The case has already been delayed once.
However, it is being reported that 79-year-old Katherine and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Paris and Prince Michael, are working together to try to broker an out of court settlement that will exclude Joe Jackson - Michael's father - from being involved in the children's upbringing.
Under their deal, Katherine will continue to raise the children while Debbie, who will drop her custody claim, will have regular access, a British newspaper reports.
"The last thing she wanted was for those kids to be looked after by Joe and go through what Michael went through," a source close to the attorney acting for Debbie - married to Michael from 1996 to 1999 - told the Sunday Mirror.
"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."