The late King of Pop's last will and testament, dated July 7, 2002, says Ross should take custody of his children if his mother is unable to.

Jackson's mother Katherine, 79, currently has temporary custody of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7.

"If any of my children are minors at the time of my death, I nominate my mother, Katherine Jackson as guardian," Jackson said in the document.

He then said that if she died before him or was incapacitated, Ross, 65, should get full custody.

"If Katherine Jackson fails to survive me, or is unable or unwilling to act as guardian, I nominate Diana Ross as guardian," he wrote.

Jackson's final wishes also completely cut out his ex-wife Debbie Rowe - mother of his two eldest children - from inheriting anything.

"I have intentionally omitted to provide (for) my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson," wrote Jackson.

There was also no mention anywhere of Jackson's father Joe, whom he claimed had physically abused him as a child.

The five-page document values his entire estate at $500m (£300m) and leaves it in full to the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

It says the estate consists almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalogue of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities".

Meanwhile, the manager of the Hollywood gossip website TMZ told Sky's Kay Burley how he discovered Jackson had been taken ill before any other news source.

Mike Walters said the tip came from several photographers who worked at Jackson's house on a regular basis.

Earlier, Sky's Stuart Ramsay reported from California that Michael Jackson's body will be transported by convoy to his Neverland ranch for a public wake to be held at the end of the week.