Michael Jackson shocked the world when he married American nurse Debbie Rowe in a secretive ceremony in Sydney almost 23 years ago - beginning a union that delivered children to the megastar who is now accused of abusing kids in a shocking new documentary.
Debbie Rowe was 37 when she married Jackson, 38, in front of small crowd in Sydney's Sheraton on the Park Hotel in November 13, 1996.
The bizarre ceremony saw Rowe wear a non-traditional black wedding dress while she was was pregnant with the first of two children she would 'gift' to Jackson.
The private wedding took place while Jackson was on tour for his 'HIStory' album.
Jackson's best man was an eight-year-old boy named Anthony, whom the megastar reportedly referred to as his nephew.
News of Jackson's wedding was released by his Los Angeles based publicist, Ms Christina Holevas, and shocked the world.
The secrecy surrounding the wedding was so intense that a member of his touring party refused to confirm or deny the marriage and staff at the Sheraton swore Jackson hadn't left his room, the Irish Times reported.
The pair tied the knot ten days after Jackson told a disbelieving crowd that Rowe was pregnant and due to give birth in February, according to the publication.
Rowe was a nursing assistant to Beverley Hills dermatologist Dr Arnold Klein and met Jackson 15 years before their marriage, while he was having treatment for his skin condition.
Wearing a non-traditional black wedding dress, Rowe (left) was heavily pregnant with the first of two children she would 'gift' to Jackson (right) when they tied the knot
The couple wed in front of a small crowd at Sydney's exclusive Sheraton on the Park Hotel
Rowe was a nursing assistant to Beverley Hills dermatologist Dr Arnold Klein and met Jackson 15 years before their marriage, while he was treating his skin condition
The pair married three months after his divorce from American singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley was finalised.
Rowe consoled Jackson following his split and the pair struck up a close friendship.
In contrast to his union with Rowe, Jackson's brief marriage to Presley was a very public relationship filled with prime-time TV interviews and public displays of affection.
ABC News reported Jackson's marriage to Presley was intended to boost his image and distract the public from accusations of child molestation made against him.
In 1994, he settled a sexual abuse lawsuit concerning a 13-year-old boy.
Rowe gave birth to her first child with Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr - nicknamed Prince Michael - at L.A's Cedars Sinai Hospital in February 13, 1997, four months after their wedding.
'He said ''I really want to be a dad'', and I said ''So be a dad''. He looked at me puzzled,'' Rowe said in a 2003 TV special called Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant To See.
'Michael was definitely more excited than I was,' Rowe recalled following her 23-hour labor.
'He was SO excited when I had a contraction. He was welling up ... and then his son was born. The look on his face ... I'd never seen him that happy.'
Their second child, Paris, was born 14 months later.
Jackson said of the birth: 'I snatched her and just went home with all the placenta and everything all over her.'
Rowe and Jackson gave birth to their first child, Prince Michael, in February 1997 - four months after their wedding
Rowe and Jackson ended their marriage in October 1999 and Jackson was given full custody of Prince Michael and Paris.
Rowe said they said split up because she missed having a private life and could no
