THE MICHAEL'S ANGELS

The king of pop's kids are a close-knit trio who guard their privacy fiercely

- KESHIA AFRICA

THEY'VE been famous from the moment they were born, the world so hungry for pictures of them as kids that their father had them wear masks and veils when they ventured out in public.

It was a bizarre way to grow up, but as the children of Michael Jackson, Prince Michael, Paris and Bigi (formerly known as Blanket), could never expect life to be normal.

Now they're all grown up, and when they made a rare joint appearance at the London premiere of MJ the Musical it was clear the trio still don't feel entirely comfortable facing the gaze of the world.

Paris and Bigi in particular seemed to find all the attention overwhelming.

All three declined to do interviews so it anyone's guess how they felt seeing actor Myles Frost bringing their father back to life on stage. But what is clear is that even though Michael has been dead for 14 years - most of their lives - they still feel his absence keenly.

Paris, who has followed in her dad's footsteps by launching a singing career, paid a touching tribute to him in August while performing in Colorado.

"It's my dad's birthday," she told the crowd. "He would have been 65 years old today. I owe everything to him."

Having lived his own life in the spotlight from a young age and knowing what it was like to be hounded by paparazzi, Michael didn't want the same for his kids and made it clear he'd do everything in his power to shield them from the attention of the world.

"I grew up in a fishbowl and will not allow the same to happen to my child," the prince of pop said after Prince's birth.

True to his word, he largely kept his children hidden behind the high walls of his Neverland estate and if they did venture out in public the kids wore masks and veils so nobody could see their faces.