'My kids will have a father': Linda Thompson reveals she thought Bruce Jenner would 'put lid on' becoming a woman after getting married to Kris

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She already knew her husband of five years in fact wanted to become a woman.

But Linda Thompson revealed she thought Bruce Jenner was going to 'put a lid' on those feelings when she discovered he was getting married to the then Kris Kardashian.

And the 66-year-old said she was relieved when she discovered his decision, as she felt it ensured their sons Brody and Sam would have a father in their lives.

Naive: Linda Thompson revealed she thought the then Bruce Jenner would forget about becoming a woman after marrying the then Kris Kardashian on Wednesday's Nightline

The former beauty queen told Nightline: 'I was elated, I was so elated that Bruce was going to be happy.

'In my inexperienced and naive and ignorant way of perceiving transgender I thought, "Oh he's going to put the lid on it again and he's going to stay a man and my kids we'll have a father.

'And in a masculine image, and this all going to work out fine.

'I'd moved on with my life and I so wanted Bruce to move on with his life or her life. Whatever would bring. Her happiness.'

Fairytale: Bruce and Kris seemed to be a couple who had it all after their 1991 wedding

Father figure: Linda hoped a settled domestic life would make Bruce a better father to their boys Brody and Sam

'Masculine image': She thought it would also help the Olympic champion get back in touch with his macho side

After tying the knot with Bruce fathered daughters Kendall and Kylie with Kris, and went on to find further fame as a cast member on hit reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, only changing gender to alter ego Caitlyn in 2015.

But despite Linda's high hopes, she said Bruce still failed to be a positive presence as a father to her boys.

She said: 'No matter what you are going through... if you have a child, be a parent. There is really no excuse for that, though it is forgivable. '

Linda, who admits she lied to her boys when they saw their father had developed breasts as he underwent female hormone treatment, said her sons are happy she never told them the truth about what their father was going through until they were older.

Moving on: She said that she was glad both she and her ex-husband moved on after divorce

Fly in the ointment: But she was unhappy at how he performed as a parent to their sons

She also said Bruce's inner turmoil destroyed what she thought was a perfect marriage, a five year union that ended in 1986.

Linda, who was promoting her autobiography A Little Thing Called Life, said: 'My happiness was complete until that day when Brody was 18 months old and Brandon was just about three and a half and my remarkable husband came to me one day and said, ‘I need to tell you something about myself.’”

While she feared he was going to confess to having an affair, it turned out to be more of an existential crisis.

She said: 'And he said, ‘I identify as a woman... I am a woman. I would like to become female on the exterior, because I’ve always been female on the inside."'

Linda said she found his confession both 'earth shattering,' and 'devastating,' admitting she had no idea about the secret he had been carrying around with him.

Young love: She thought she had the perfect relationship with the American icon

Trouble on the horizon: But the longer their wedding lasted the less comfortable Bruce was in his own skin

However they tried to get their marriage on track by attending counselling during which time Bruce invited her to see him in New York. 

But instead of a romantic weekend together, she was greeted by Bruce at his apartment dressed in women’s clothing.

She said: 'I think I even fell down in the hall ... I just went, ‘Oh, oh, no, no.’ And I just started crying. 

Kodak moment: The future reality television personality was there for the birth of his boys

Cultivated image: And he seemed the epitome of masculinity as he posed with his extended brood while sitting on a chopper

'(He said) "I’m so sorry. I just thought it was very important that you see who I authentically am." 

'Not until that moment, I guess, did it sink into my psyche that that truly was who Caitlyn felt that she was. And I had to respect that and honor that and move on with my life.'

And Linda, who went on to marry famed record producer David Foster, who she divorced in 2005, said she is happy her ex-husband has found her feet in her new persona.

Ticking timebomb: But in 2015 the star formerly known as Bruce dramatically unveiled her new Caitlyn persona

Thankful: She said her boys are glad she shielded them from their father's existential crisis

She said: 'I think, more than anything, it’s been a relief for Caitlyn to be able to emerge as her true self. And we love her

'When I first met her, she was in a Bruce Jenner body. He was just an incredible person. Still is. 

'I have since said to her, "You’ve got to give yourself credit. You know, you kicked manhood’s butt.'

'You kicked manhood’s butt': Linda said she is thrilled how things have turned out for her ex