Michael Jackson's Kids Have No Friends

Katherine Jackson, mother of the late Michael Jackson, has been taking care of the pop star's kids, as directed in his will, since his death almost a year ago.

Since June 25, 2009, the children have become "isolated" and miss their father desperately, she tells the UK's Daily Mirror. It's very sad and not surprising.

"They don't have any friends. They don't go to school, they have private lessons at home," Katherine laments, "But that will all change in September."

"They are due to enroll at private college."

What college that is remains unclear, but according to the interview, one of the kids' coping mechanisms is to spend hours listening to their father's music.

Paris, Prince and Blanket are rarely seen in public.

Katherine says Paris Jackson has turned her bedroom into a shrine to her "Daddy" and that Prince and Blanket talk often about trying to make him proud.

The Jackson matriarch says that when the children moved in with her, she wanted to decorate Paris' room with flowers or ballerinas. That didn't happen.

Katherine says "Paris went into a closet and she brought out seven or eight pictures of Michael, and she told me, 'No, I want daddy hanging in my room.'"

Paris Jackson, who many fans remember from the memorial, "goes to bed and wakes up looking at him. She said, 'I always want to be able to see him.'"

Almost brings a tear to your eye, no?

Despite Michael's wish that his kids have a life away from the spotlight - a goal he went to great lengths to foster - that doesn't mean they aren't gifted.

In the interview, the 80-year-old Katherine went on to say Paris is the most musically-inclined of the three and that Prince wants to produce movies.

Blanket has show flashes of coming out of his shell too.

For now, the children go to classes and their karate and swimming lessons, which they love, and live under the guardianship of Katherine, who they love.

The kids' trust fund is wisely and appropriately managed. Hopefully they continue to grow and mature with whatever degree of normalcy they can achieve.

The interview comes just days before the anniversary of the star's death, and the release of a new book by Katherine with pictures and memories of MJ.

Above all, Katherine says that "Michael was so misunderstood ... I treasure my memories of him and wanted to share them with his fans in my book."

"I remember when he brought gifts for me. A watch, a necklace, a ring. I'll never forget how he smiled when I opened each one. He was so generous."

"I want the world to know that real Michael Jackson, a loving person."