LOS ANGELES , USA - MICHAEL Jackson's public memorial yesterday also served as the unveiling of the next generation.

His children - sons Prince Michael, 12; Prince Michael II, seven; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11 - have remained in the shadows for most of their young lives, surfacing only in recent paparazzi photos.

But they have come into the spotlight since Jackson's death on June 25.

On Tuesday, at Jackson's Staples Center memorial, attended by a crowd of 20,000, his children sat in the front row with their grandparents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

And Paris' moving tribute to her father towards the end of the star-studded two-hour memorial came as a surprise.

Taking to the stage, she said: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much."

She then broke down in tears and buried herself in the arms of her aunt, Janet Jackson, as her brothers clustered around her.

It was a coming-out moment for the three bearers of Jackson's legacy.

Online, the reaction to the children has gone into overdrive.

Comments on the three range from how "beautiful" and "innocent" they look, to speculation as to whether they will go into showbiz.

Jackson was said to be working on new music with his children before his death, calling them The Jackson Four.

A source reportedly told British tabloid The Sun that "Michael had always wanted his children to be passionate about music and dance. Michael's older son Prince sings beautifully and all three children love to dance".

At the memorial, the three children joined star guests in singing Heal The World.

--AGENCIES

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