Kelly Rutherford wins three-year custody battle

Kelly Rutherford has won her three-year custody battle to return her young children to the US after they were ordered to stay in France with their father Daniel Giersch.

The 46-year-old 'Gossip Girl' actress has been locked in a legal battle with her ex-husband since 2012 when a judge ruled that their eight-year-old son Hermes and six-year-old daughter Helena should live with the 41-year-old entrepreneur in Europe and Kelly could come out and visit because his US visa had been revoked and they shared custody. However, on Friday (22.05.15), the court order filed that the children must be returned to Los Angeles and Kelly will keep their US passports.

Kelly's lawyer Wendy Murphy told People magazine: "We are ecstatic, and hopeful that Monaco will respect the California court's ruling and send the children home. It has long been our position that Monaco has no jurisdiction because Hermes and Helena, as American citizens, have an absolute right to live in their own country,"

Kim Kardashian West, a long-time family friend of Kelly's has tweeted her joy and congratulations to the actress.

She wrote: "Wow!! Congrats @KellyRutherford You deserve ever bit of this joy! Xoxo (sic)".

Kelly had previously been left heartbroken after her attempts to get her children back were dismissed by a federal judge.

She previously said: "My children, not only were they taken away, but they were sent to a foreign country. I don't know how you even explain to someone what it feels like! I could sit here and tell you how often I cry. I could tell you how it feels to leave my kids in a foreign country."