Was Michael Jackson Dating his children's nanny?

Michael Jackson was secretly romancing his children's nanny Grace Rwaramba, his personal photographer has revealed. The 'King of Pop' who died at the age of 50 after a suspected cardiac arrest, had a long relationship with the Uganda native, claimed Ian Barkley his personal photographer.Grace loved Michael and he loved her.. it was an open secret among staff," said Barkley. According to the photographer, Jackson's children used to call 42-year-old Rwaramba "mom", reported the Mirror online. Barkley, who travelled the world with the 'Thriller' hitmaker for three years as his personal photographer says that Jackson fell in love with Grace, 42 after she became the nanny of his children in 1999 following his divorce from Debbie Rowe.

She acted like a normal mother toPrince Michael, 12, Paris Katherine, 11 and six-year-old Prince Michael II behind closed doors, claims Barkley. Jackson's former head of security, Matt Fiddes had earlier claimed that the King of Pop had a secret lover but he had refused to reveal her name. Fiddes who has known Jacko since the 1990s, said, "The family were aware that there was someone special in his life who he loved and adored and had his ups and downs with.

For some time she's been present in his life. She wasn't a celebrity figure, absolutely not."Another of Jackson's bodyguards has also confirmed that the secret woman was none other than Rwaramba. "Matt was referring to Grace. They were more like a married couple than employer and employee. "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," the unnamed security guard said.

Grace had started as a secretary before working her way up to become the most important woman in the superstar's life. The former nanny is now back in Beverly Hills after Jackson's family asked her to help comfort the kids. She is expected to be among the chief mourners at the private family funeral on Tuesday.

Rwaramba who also had a short-lived romance with Jackson's older brother Jermaine earlier, had said in an earlier interview that she quit the US in December last year after being sacked by Jackson. She had claimed that the star fired her after becoming jealous of her closeness to the children.