Michael Jackson to appear in London court over contract dispute

After earlier claims that he was too ill to travel, Michael Jackson is set to make a trip to London next week to testify in a contract dispute trial brought against him by a member of Bahrain's royal family.

Robert Englehart, lawyer for the reclusive pop star, told a British court on Thursday that Jackson's doctors have cleared him for travel in two days' time.

Jackson, who had initially requested to appear by video link from the U.S., is now slated to appear in the London courtroom on Monday.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son of the king of Bahrain, filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the internationally known performer over a joint entertainment venture that was to include a new album, a stage show and a candid autobiography from Jackson.

Al Khalifa is suing the troubled music world icon for more than $8 million Cdn.

In his suit, the prince claims that Jackson accepted millions of dollars in financial aid and payment for a lavish, lengthy stay in Bahrain before reneging on the contract. Jackson lived in the small Gulf state following his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges in California.

Englehart, however, has argued that the venture never got off the ground and that his client took the payments as gifts.

Since his acquittal in 2005, Jackson has been involved in a host of legal disputes, including with various financiers, former business associates and his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.

Amid all the lawsuits, the precarious state of his finances became public. Recently, it emerged that Jackson has officially given up the title to his Neverland estate in California.