This article appeared in modernmic.com and has been published here with permission.
This article looks at what it was like growing up Jackson at the Neverland Ranch, and the lives of Michael Jackson’s children now that they’re all grown up – from graduating college to modeling and acting, and even a YouTube series!
Debbie Rowe
Michael Jackson was married to Lisa Marie Presley for 2 years, but the couple separated in 1996 with Presley refusing to have children. Jackson was said to be worried that he would never have children of his own. Jackson’s second wife was a woman named Debbie Rowe. Michael and Debbie had met while she was a dermatologist assistant who had treated his vitiligo. The pair courted and were married on November 13, 1996. The relationship would only last two years, but she would give birth to 2 children in that time.
A Prince Is Born
The first child of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, named Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., was born February 13, 1997 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The couple quickly decided on the perfect nickname for the son of the king of pop: Prince. Debbie and Michael were not a conventional couple, and their marriage was more to do with providing the singer with a family. Shortly after Prince was born, Michael brought the newborn child to his home, Neverland Ranch, while Debbie stayed with a friend.
Dana Evans & Kahleah Copper
Cute As A Button
Michael loved doing photoshoots with his children and dressing them up in adorable outfits. Prince looks cute as a button in this very 90s photo, complete with bow tie and big brown eyes. Prince has very fond memories of his childhood at Neverland and says that Michael was a great father who wanted them to live the childhood of their dreams. Prince has stated on numerous occasions how much he misses Michael and how he honors him every day by remembering him.
Paris Arrives
Rowe announced that she was pregnant with Jackson’s second child in November 1997, and on April 3, 1998, a little blue-eyed babe named Paris Michael Katherine Jackson was born. Her middle names come from Michael and his mother, Katherine. As he had done with Prince, Michael took Katherine to the Neverland Ranch soon after the birth. This would be their childhood home, and quite an unconventional one at that, complete with theme park rides and even a petting zoo!
Her Own Private Carousel
Life for Paris and Prince at Neverland Ranch looks like every kid’s dream! The ranch that Jackson bought in 1988 was transformed into an amusement park with a carousel, rollercoaster, and a real zoo. The kids loved to play in this ultimate fairytale land, and Paris looks adorable in her flowered dress as she rides her own private carousel. The children couldn’t go on the rides all the time, but when they were done studying they could make the most of it!
Impeccably Styled
Michael Jackson was always known for his flamboyant, yet impeccably styled, outfits, and the ones he picked for his children were no exception! This photo shows Prince and Paris posing on this beautiful motorcycle and looking very stylish! Michael often dressed Paris in very girly clothes, choosing mary-jane shoes, lots of bows, and very classic dresses. Prince, on the other hand, often wore shirts and slacks which is a style he has also adopted by choice in his adult life.
Blanket Is Born
Prince Michael Jackson II, the third child of Michael, was born on February 21, 2002. Michael used a surrogate mother whose identity was not known to him. Michael nicknamed him Blanket, saying, “…a blanket is a blessing. It’s a way of showing love and caring.” The world first saw Blanket in a dramatic moment when Michael held him up Lion King style to a group of photographers outside a hotel in Berlin. Michael later said he had been swept up in emotion.
Peter Pan Costumes
Peter Pan was an important story in Michael Jackson’s life, he even named his home Neverland after the fictional territory in the book where children do not have to grow up. It was only fitting that the children loved the fantasy of the story too. This adorable photo shows Prince, Paris, and Blanket dressed up in beautiful handmade costumes. Michael was a performer from a very young age and missed a lot of his childhood, so he wanted the three to experience as much magic as possible.
Protecting The Family
Michael always wanted to protect the children from the media and photographers, as well as in an emotional sense. Most paparazzi photos of the kids during their childhood show them wearing elaborate masks, sometimes even carnival costumes, or facial coverings. Sometimes the masks would cover the children’s faces, although often they were semi-transparent which somehow defeated the purpose of wearing them. If anything, it made the paparazzi more voracious in their quest to photograph the children out in the world.
Famous Friends
Playmates of the Jackson children were often the kids of celebrities and wealthy people who would visit them at Neverland Ranch. The family poses for a snap with real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and his family. The two sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid remain close friends with Paris Jackson to this day. As the Jackson children were homeschooled until Michael’s passing, they couldn’t make friends their age the conventional way at school, so these social opportunities were important for them.
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