'He's with our son now': Prince's ex-wife and the mother of his only child Mayte Garcia speaks out about tragic death as she is seen sobbing after learning the news

Prince's first wife Mayte Garcia was photographed in Los Angeles on Thursday having a tearful phone conversation shortly after learning the singer had died.

Garcia was just 22-years-old and working as a backup dancer for the singer, who was 37 at thew time, when the two wed in 1996 Valentine's Day.

In October of that same year Garcia gave birth to a son, prince's only child, Boy Gregory.

The baby was tragically born with Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare disorder that does not allow the head to grow properly due to the premature fusion of certain bones of the skull, and died just a week after his birth.

They split just a few years later and in 1999 the couple's marriage was annulled on their third wedding anniversary.

Garcia spoke to People about her ex-husband's tragic death, saying; 'I can't even think of the words of what I'm feeling. This man was my everything, we had a family. I am beyond deeply saddened and devastated.'

She then added; 'I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally. He's with our son now.'

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Upset: Mayte Garcia (above) was photographed in Los Angeles on Thursday having a tearful phone conversation shortly after learning Prince had died

Tearful: Garcia and Prince married on Valentine's Day 1996 when she was just 22 and he was 37

Suffering: The baby was tragically born with Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare disorder that does not allow the head to grow, and died a week after his birth

Prince was found dead on Thursday morning at his Paisley Park estate just outside Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The cause of death remains a mystery, but the 57-year-old had come down with a 'severe' case of the flu six days prior to his being discovered unresponsive in an elevator inside his $10million home.

His symptoms were so bad at the time that his plane had to make an emergency landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois so he could be rushed to a hospital and receive medical attention.

The singer, who was born Prince Rogers Nelson, performed a show in Atlanta last Thursday prior to becoming sick, and appeared at a dance party in Minnesota on Saturday to let his fans know he was doing better after his sudden hospitalization.

Prince, who over the course of his career won seven Grammy Awards, an Oscar and sold over 100 million records worldwide, told fans at the event; 'Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.' 

He was last seen Wednesday night leaving a Walgreen's near his home around 7pm, marking the fourth time the singer had been to the pharmacy that week.

The singer seemed to live a remarkably healthy life, having been a strict vegan for over a decade and becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 2001, a faith that largely prohibits the consumption of alcohol.

He joined the church just two years after his split from Garcia, one of the many women the noted Lothario romanced over the years.

Garcia's mother submitted a video of the then 16-year-old dancing to Prince's team in 1990 and soon after she was hired to be a part of his Diamonds and Pearls Tour.

She was still a teenager two years later when she became the focus of Prince's 1992 album whose title was an unpronounceable symbol and later became known as Love Symbol.

Prince also wrote his 1995 hit song 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World' about Garcia.

After their divorce Garcia had a two-year relationship with drummer Tommy Lee, but has said in multiple interviews that she will always love her ex-husband.

She is now a choreographer and actress, most famous perhaps for her work on the music video for Britney Spears' 2001 song 'I'm A Slave 4 U,' with Garcia choreographing the belly dancing routines performed by the pop star and her dancers.

Back in the day: Garcia and Prince split in 1999 after three years of marriage (right in 1998, left in 1999)

Wife: Prince and his wife Manuela Testolini sit in the audience at the 35th Annual NAACP Image Awards in 2004 (above)

Former lovers: Madonna (second from left with friend Guy Oseary) is rumored to have had a fling with Prince (second from right with wife Mayte) and the two met again at a 1999 party hosted by Donatella Versace (center)

Prince would marry just once more in his life, tying the knot with Manuela Testolini in 2001, two years after ending his marriage to Garcia.

Testolini was 24 when she married the singer, who was 43 at the time, shortly after meeting him while working for his charitable foundation.

The native Canadian largely avoided the spotlight during her marriage to the star, focusing on her charitable endeavors as well as her production company Gamillah, Inc., which she used to help promote non-profit organizations.

Protege: Prince and Vanity on a 1983 Rolling Stone cover

It was her decision to leave the singer and file for divorce in 2006, and he made no attempt to hide how hurt he was to lose his wife of five years.

Testolini would go on to marry Halle Berry's ex-husband Eric Benet in 2011 and the couple now has two daughters.

Prince began a relationship with Bria Valente, who was born Brenda Fuentes, a year after the end of his marriage. 

It is not clear how old Valente was at the time or when exactly they split, but the young woman's Facebook page shows that she was married in a few years ago to a fellow Jehovah's Witness.

She joined the faith while dating Prince.

Valente is Prince's last confirmed girlfriend, and one of the many protegees the singer dated over the years.

It was in 1980 that he met his first protegee, Denise Matthews, at the American Music Awards.

Prince renamed her Vanity soon after believing her to be the female form of himself and made her the lead singer of the girl group he had created, Vanity 6.

The two dated for a few years and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1983, with Vanity finding success in the film and music worlds even after the two split.

She would go on to have relationships with artists rockers Billy Idol and Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue before marrying football player Anthony Smith in 1995, one year after becoming a born-again Christian following an overdose of crack cocaine.

Friends and lovers: Prince and Sheila E.first got close after meeting in 1978 which led to Prince working and recording with Sheila on a variety of projects, including Purple Rain

Sheila, who continues to work in the music industry, wrote on Twitter Thursday; 'My heart is broken. There are no words. I love you!'

Vanity, like many of Prince's lovers, would later write in her autobiography that he was the only man she ever truly loved.

She tragically died of renal failure in February of this year. Vanity, like Prince, was 57-year-old at the time of her death. 

Prince paid tribute to Vanity during a concert in Australia shortly after he death, where he performed songs in her honor while also highlighting the hits he wrote while the two were together, including his classic 'Little Red Corvette.' 

It was when Vanity decided to drop out of Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain that the singer met his next protegee turned lover, 24-year-old Mexican model Patricia Apollonia Kotero.

Singers and actresses: Prince was rumored to have had an affair with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles after gifting them their hit Manic Monday. He was also linked with actress Vanessa Marcil (right)

Long list of lovers: Kim Basinger and Prince are pictured her together at a restaurant in 1988 

Prince performs with American dancer Misty Copeland during the Welcome 2 America tour at Madison Square Garden on December 29, 2010 in New York City

She became known as Apollonia and was cast in the film's leading female role, with the character's name being changed from Vanity 6 to Apollonia 6, which also became the name of her girl band.

Appollonia and Prince parted ways in 1985 but she managed to stay in the spotlight with a role on the soap Falcon Crest and in 1988 the release of an eponymous album.

She also dated some big names after Prince, being linked to actor Lorenzo Lamas and singer David Lee Roth among others before marrying writer Kevin Bernhardt.

The two tied the night in 1987 but in 1996 announced that their marriage was over. 

It is not clear when Apollonia's relationship with Prince began or ended as he was dating another one of the stars of Purple Rain during the making of the film, Susan Moonsie.

History: Prince famously dated Vanity (center) of the group Vanity 6 and also is rumored to have dated Susan Moonsie (left) from the same band 

Ladies man: Prince was also linked to Twin Peaks star Sherilyn Fenn and Baywatch beauty Carmen Electra 

Moonsie was just a teenager at the time and had been a member of Vanity 6, later joining Apollonia 6 and ending her relationship with Prince in 1983 or 1984, possibly because he began dating Susannah Melvoin.

There have been claims that Prince wrote 'When Doves Cry' about Moonsie. 

Melvoin meanwhile became Prince's first serious relationship, with the two eventually getting engaged in 1985.

She was a talented singer and songwriter in her own right, and after the two split she went on to work with singers including Madonna and dated John Cusack.

Melvoin also got some songs written in her honor during her time with Prince, including 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' the haunting ballad which was later performed by Sinead O'Connor and earned Prince a Song of the Year Grammy nomination.

Also in the Prince relationship mix during the 1980s was singer and drummer Shiela E, with the pair getting close after meeting in 1978 which led to Prince working and recording with Sheila on a variety of projects, including Purple Rain.

She was the most successful of the singer's protegees, going on to find her own success with songs like The Glamorous Life which was released in 1984 and earned her a Best New Artist Grammy nomination. 

Sheila, who continues to work in the music industry, wrote on Twitter Thursday; 'My heart is broken. There are no words. I love you!'

Then, throughout the 80s and 90s, there were Prince's many flings with fellow celebrities, including , Sherilyn Fenn, Vanessa Marcil, Kim Basinger, Madonna, Susanna Hoffs and Tara Leigh Patrick.

That last lady also got a name change at Prince's suggestion, to Carmen Electra. 

Hoffs meanwhile got the song that launched her career from prince, 'Manic Monday,' which had previously been recorded by his protegee Vanity. 

More recently there were also rumors that he had a relationship with ballerina Misty Copeland after she appeared in his 2009 music video for 'Crimson and Clover' and joined him on select tour dates to dance while he performed. 

The rumors were just that however, as Copeland was in a relationship at the time with lawyer Olu Evans, who is now her fiance.