Larry Birkhead has been named as the legal guardian of his daughter Dannielynn Birkhead and her late mother Anna Nicole Smith’s estate after judges ruled part of Anna Nicole’s will to be invalid.

The will, written in 2001, stated that all Anna Nicole’s assets should be left to her now deceased son Daniel Smith and “intentionally omitted to provide for … future spouses and children”.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff of the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled the clause to be invalid and agreed that Larry, as Dannielynn’s biological father, is in the “best position to protect and safeguard the interest of her estate.”

Larry’s once foe but now friend Howard K Stern has been named the executor of the estate as requested in the will.

Larry spoke briefly after yesterday’s court hearing, saying: “Dannielynn is doing fine. We had a great Father’s Day together.”

“I spent lots of time with her. Just private time. We had a great day.”

Howard K Stern added while it was “really hard” to hand Danielynn over to Larry, he believes it’s working out well: “Dannielynn seems just as happy as can be. I wish that Anna could see her now. It’s just horrible that she can’t.”