He was one of the most secretive men in showbiz but Michael Jackson made a startling confession just a few months before he died.

The King of Pop revealed that British actor Mark Lester is the father of his daughter Paris and eldest son Prince.

Jacko said he had only fathered his youngest son Blanket.

His close friend Jason Pfeiffer claims Jacko went on to tell him he wanted troubled Paris’s mum, Debbie Rowe, to have no part in her life, insisting he was “mom and dad” to his children.

Jason, 39, speaking on the fourth anniversary of the Thriller star’s death, explained: “Michael and I often talked about our families and our lives.

“One day as we talked about his children and Debbie Rowe, he just came out and said that his children were actually fathered by Mark.

“Michael calmly said, ‘My friend Mark donated the sperm’. I was taken aback, but I didn’t think to ask anymore questions about the procedure.

“Michael felt Mark was one of his closest friends. He said he was a great actor and very good man. He mentioned that he had taken several people’s sperm and decided on Mark.

“Michael didn’t tell me the other people he chose as sperm donors and as he was so open I let him talk.

“I don’t know why he didn’t want his own used and it didn’t dawn on me to ask anything. I just listened as he nonchalantly dropped the bombshell.

“He looked proud as he delivered the news.”

The singer had his two eldest children with Debbie while Blanket was born to an anonymous surrogate mother.

Mark has previously claimed he may be the father of two of the children. And Jason feels Michael would have wanted Oliver star Mark to play a role raising both Prince and Paris.

The office manager says Michael confided in him during one of his many visits to Arnold Klein’s medical clinic in Beverly Hills in February 2009.

Four months later, aged 50, the star died after his doctor Conrad Murray gave him a deadly dose of the anaesthetic Propofol. Murray was later jailed for manslaughter.

Jason said: “In the next few days it dawned on me the significance of his confession. Since the 90s people talked about the sperm donation, but he always told everyone he was their dad. Now he confided in me this secret.

“At that time I kept much of what Michael told me a secret and he trusted me. I didn’t know much about Mark, but when he came out publicly after Michael died to admit he thought he was the children’s dad it all made sense.

“I know people may doubt him, but he IS their father. Michael told me he was.”

Jason has broken his four-year silence as he fears Paris, who recently tried to take her own life, could suffer further breakdowns unless drastic measures are taken – including introducing father-of-four Mark into her life.

“If Michael knew how his and the kids’ lives would end up, I feel he would approve of Mark having a much more active role.

"Mark would be a good person to have in their lives. He has his own teenage kids and has been loyal to Michael for years.

“If Michael picked his seed, then he would want him involved.”

Now an osteopath, Mark, 54, has said he is prepared to take a DNA test to prove paternity and would like Paris to live with him at his Oxfordshire home.

And while Jacko got on well with Mark, it was not so with Debbie Rowe. Jason continued: “Michael got very prickly when it came to Debbie. He didn’t talk about her at all.

(Image: REUTERS)

“Michael’s attitude was that Debbie waived her rights to the kids, and that was her decision. She was not ever to be considered their mother.”

Debbie, 54, is not petitioning the LA Superior Court for ?visitation rights to Paris but in the last year the 15-year-old has spent time at Debbie’s Californian ranch.

On June 5, Paris was rushed to hospital after cutting her wrists and taking painkillers. Her traumas were said to be prompted by several vicious rows with family over her lifestyle and attitude.

She has also suffered cyber bullying and was believed to be nervous about testifying in the ongoing AEG trial.

Along with her grandmother ?Katherine, and Prince, 16, Paris is suing the concert promoter for £31billion over the hiring of Dr Murray. AEG deny any responsibility for Jacko’s death.

There are also fears Paris could end up in care – a move which Jason says would have left Michael devastated.

“Paris and Michael had a unique bond,” continued Jason. “She really was the apple of his eye. He always saw her as a star in the making. Michael knew Paris had picked up his traits like being quite stubborn, intelligent and mischievous. She especially had Michael’s lust for life, laughing and being centre of attention.

“Paris walked around the office like a little diva back then, and it was charming and cool rather than obnoxious.

“But Michael knew she had very strong sensibilities too – and could have very big emotional reactions like sulks, or hissy fits.

"He knew how to deal with Paris in those moments, calming her down or making her smile.”

(Image: Getty Images)

He added: “It is tough for Paris to be without the main influence in her life at this very challenging time.

"She could always talk to her dad and have his support.”

Jason, who was so close to Michael and the children that he would spend Christmas Eve with them at their family home, said: “Michael loved Christmas and that energy spread to the kids.

"Even though Michael had his drug issues bubbling away, he was a good father.

“Although in the last few weeks of his life he suffered a drug-induced breakdown, somehow he kept it together ?for the kids.”

But Jason admits the star also had a strict side. “Michael was a disciplinarian. Many times at the office the kids would come in with him and play hide and seek.

"He would keep tabs on them and if they got too loud, told them to hush and sit down. They obeyed him and gave little back chat.

“Michael had candy around the house for himself, but wouldn’t allow the kids to eat it.

"He was also very hands on with his chef, making sure the kids had vegetables, healthy options and not too much sugar.”

But the star sometime lost his temper. Jason said: “Michael threw a huge strop when he caught them watching him in his film The Wiz.

“Michael yelped, ‘Why do you have this on? – turn it off!’, and we were all surprised.

“Paris then said, ‘Please Daddy. Can we watch you?’, but Michael just angrily told them to switch it off.

“He was angry when Paris saw Thriller on the net too. He hated them having access to the web.

"His concerns seem to have come true as Paris has suffered such cyber bullying.”

(Image: PHILIP COBURN)

A reason for Jacko’s comeback tour was that they were “sick of living like gypsies”.

Jason added: “From 2006 to 2008 Michael moved his children round the world a lot and saw its impact.

“He told me how upset he was that they didn’t really have friends or a home.

"Had he been in America, child services probably would have considered a care home. That would have tipped Michael over the edge.”

And while Michael focused on his children, he still had feelings for his first wife Lisa Marie Presley though their marriage lasted only 19 months.

Jason said: “Michael acted like he was still infatuated. He called her as ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’.

“He told me he was enamoured from their first meeting and she would have made an excellent mother.

“I can’t see Lisa Marie wanting anything to do with Michael’s children in terms of care, but she could play a godmother-style role.”