They have the same air of a person who has endured much, yet has a sense of naivety. More than anything else there is a feeling that she is not quite of this world.
I am inside the Jackson family home. The decor is chintzy faux Versailles with a few Seventies browns and oranges. There are paintings of princesses, lots of sculptures of giant hands, galloping horses and the odd giraffe.
There is an ornament depicting Michael Jackson holding up the world with doves and children. It’s ornate and sentimental, a bit like Michael. I walk past a row of children’s bikes — a reminder that she now has custody of Michael’s three children — and a swimming pool, in sight of majestic mountains under the blue California sky, to get to Katherine Jackson’s quarters. I had to go through double-gated security to get to this house 45 minutes from Hollywood.
She greets me warily but sweetly. She’s dressed in a pale blue jacket and black slacks. Her skin looks much younger than her 81 years. Her eyes are dark and dart around. She seems to be frisking me for my soul.
The Jacksons are naturally suspicious and they all believe in various conspiracy theories surrounding the death of her son and their brother.
She has just taken a call from her son Jermaine who is vehemently opposed to the Michael Forever Tribute Concert at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on October 8, which will be televised and downloaded to more countries than any other show in the history of pop (or so they claim).
JLS will perform with Marlon, Tito and Jackie Jackson. And a pregnant Beyoncé, wearing a Michael wig, will be seen on film, introduced by the Jackson children — Prince Michael, 14, Paris, 13, and Blanket (passport name Prince Michael II), 10.
The concert has caused friction within the family, because Jermaine feels it is inappropriate to stage it at the same time as Dr Conrad Murray goes on trial for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson.
Katherine Jackson seems keen to diminish the spectre of the sad Michael, plagued with demons and eccentricities, and get on with celebrating his memory and cherishing his talent.
"Prince Michael Jackson will walk the red carpet and present the manuscript on stage surrounded by children," a spokesperson for the event tells PEOPLE.
The teen is expected to arrive with an entourage but without relatives. "He won't be traveling alone," says a source close to the event, "but he won't have any family members with him."
In 2002, when he was 5, Prince Michael visited Berlin with his father, sister Paris and brother Blanket for the same event. (Staying at the Adlon Hotel on that occasion, Michael memorably dangled baby Blanket over the balcony before adoring fans.)
In previous auctions for the charity, Michael's glittery jacket and an autographed guitar went on the block, in in 2002 and 2009, respectively.
Those wishing to bid on the "Bad" manuscript may do so online between now and Nov. 10, at United Charity.
Asked to predict how much the manuscript might fetch, a spokeswoman laughed and said, "Hopefully, a whole lot.
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