Michael Jackson's Ex-Wife: 'I Want My Children Back'

Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of Michael Jackson’s children, has vowed to fight for their custody.

Rowe, who divorced from the singer in 1999, told NBC in Los Angeles: “I want my children back.”

Jackson has two children with Rowe – Prince Michael Junior, 12 and Paris Michael Katherine, 11 – and another, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, by a surrogate.

His former wife said in her interview with NBC that she would take a DNA test to prove the children belonged to her.

She also said she would seek a restraining order to prevent Jackson’s father, Joseph, from seeing her children.

Her comments come just three days after Jackson’s mother, Katherine, was awarded temporary guardianship of the singer’s three children by Los Angeles Superior Court.

And yesterday it emerged that Jackson had signalled his desire for his mother to care for his children in the eventuality of his death in his will.

In the document, written in 2002, the singer also “intentionally omitted to provide” for his former wife.

Until today, there had confusion over whether Rowe would launch a bid for custody of her two children.

A previous attempt to gain custody in 2003 ended three years later in a private settlement.

Last weekend, her lawyer said Rowe's only current wish was that “Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace”.

Jackson died a week ago today following a suspected cardiac arrest. A public memorial service is reportedly planned for Tuesday.

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