Michael Jackson's close friend Lionel Richie is convinced the superstar's kids "have a better chance" of living a "normal life" after their father's tragic death.

The Thriller hitmaker's three kids - Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and eight-year-old Blanket - were placed in the custody of their grandmother Katherine after the King of Pop passed away last year.
 
All three were tutored at home under the instruction of the singer, who was determined to keep his children out of the public eye, but Katherine decided they would be better off at public school.
 
Prince and Paris spent their first day at school in California on Wednesday, and Richie is convinced the youngsters will thrive in their new environment.
 
He tells Britain's The Sun, "I will be there for his children... I think they have a better chance now. I think they have a better opportunity to live a normal life. You know it's hard to be Michael Jackson's kids because you're out and it's you with Michael Jackson and he was larger than life."