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Michael Jackson was secretly dating his children’s nanny, it has been reported.

The romance between the ‘Bad’ star-who died of a suspected cardiac arrest on 25th June-and Ugandan-born Grace Rwaramba was reportedly an open secret among the singer’s staff and his three children. Michael’s children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Katherine, 11 and six-year-old Prince Michael II, even looked on her as their mother.

Ian Barkley, Michael’s personal photographer for three years, said, “Grace loved Michael and he loved her. The kids called her Mom.

Last week the ‘Thriller’ star’s former head of security, Matt Fiddes, admitted his ex-employer had a secret lover, but refused to name her, saying that the mystery woman was not famous.

However another bodyguard of Michael who refused to be named told Britain’s Sunday Mirror newspaper, said, “Matt was referring to Grace. They were more like a married couple than employer and employee.

“Grace was the closest person to Michael and the kids. She will be broken-hearted. The children were always their joint priority and like any couple they would row if they disagreed about how they were being brought up.

“But the different between Grace and other women in Michael’s life was that she had absolutely no interest in fame. It was something she actively avoided and Michael was determined to keep her and their relationship out of the public gaze.

“The romance was well-known among staff but it was made very clear to them that this was not something that should become part of the public domain.”

Grace began working as the singer’s secretary in 1991, was sacked and quickly reinstated several times by Michael during her stint and the children’s nanny, but was dismissed permanently in December and had quit America.

However, Grace returned to California last week and is expected to be among the chief mourners at the star’s funeral on tomorrow. (07.07.09)

The singer’s will gave full custody to his mother Katherine which saw the eldest two’s natural mother Debbie Rowe plan to stake a custody claim. Despite this custody claim, the former bodyguard believes they should be in the care of Grace.

He said, “Though I love Michael’s mum Katherine, she is 79 and if she passes on, the best place for the kids to go would be to Grace. She was with them day in and day out. She really loved them and they adored her as they would a mother. ”

The singer’s will also stated that close friend Diana Ross should become their guardian if Katherine dies.

Reports in 2007 revealed that Michael and his nanny had married, but Grace was quick to deny the comments and state that she is still married to her first husband Stacey Adair.