Kelly Rutherford's ex-husband insists his kids were "fine" about returning to Monaco.
Kelly Rutherford
The former 'Gossip Girl' actress previously claimed she defied court orders to return Helena, eight, and Hermes, six, to Daniel Giersch in Europe earlier this month because they were "panicky" and afraid of leaving the US, but the businessman insists that wasn't the case.
His lawyer said: "There was no scene. They were fine ... smiling broadly."
And the lawyer went on to stress the children "immediately warmed up" to their grandmother when she took over custody in the court last week.
The lawyer, speaking on behalf of Daniel, added to TMZ: "They didn't seem to miss a beat. It was an easy transition.
"When they left the courtroom they were happy and showed no signs of missing their mother."
Meanwhile, Kelly - who has been embroiled in the bitter custody row since she and Daniel split in 2008 - insists she will "never give up" on her children.
She told People magazine: "I've had to take a situation that's so bizarre and try to keep my kids healthy. I have to keep knowing, if I'm OK, they're going to be OK. I don't want them to be fearful.
"My children ask me all the time if I am still fighting for them... I always tell them the day will never come when I say no."
The 46-year-old star, who currently has joint custody with her ex-spouse, was ordered to return the children to their father in Monaco last week after she refused to put them on a plane back there, as previously agreed.
But she hinted she has no regrets, saying: "[This summer] was the first five weeks straight I've had with my children in six years, since Helena was born. It's hard to describe that to someone.
"My goal is their well-being, that they're safe, happy, healthy. It's scary. My kids have been through a lot. I've done everything I can to let them thing everything is normal."
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