The story of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship remains one of the most talked-about romances in entertainment history. When Elvis Presley first encountered Priscilla Beaulieu in 1959, he was already a global superstar at 24, while she was just a 14-year-old schoolgirl. This significant age gap would become a defining aspect of their connection, setting the stage for a relationship that was equal parts romantic fairytale and cautionary tale.
The dynamics between them were complex from the very beginning. Elvis saw in young Priscilla someone he could shape and mold according to his vision of an ideal partner. For years, Priscilla willingly accepted his influences, transforming herself to meet his expectations. However, as she matured and gained more life experience, she began craving independence and control over her own identity. This natural evolution proved incompatible with the foundation of their relationship, ultimately leading to their divorce in 1973 after six years of marriage.
Even after their separation, Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship left an indelible mark on both their lives. When Elvis passed away in 1977, Priscilla was devastated despite their divorce. She channeled her memories and experiences into a memoir titled “Elvis and Me” in 1985, which became the source material for Sofia Coppola’s biographical film “Priscilla.” The movie, starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, is now available on streaming platforms including Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Vudu.
Read Their Biographies
For those wanting to understand the full scope of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship, exploring their individual life stories provides essential context. Elvis Presley’s biography reveals the pressures of fame that shaped his personality and relationships, while Priscilla Presley’s biography offers insight into how she navigated life in the shadow of one of music’s biggest icons. Their individual journeys before, during, and after their time together paint a picture of two people whose lives became intertwined in ways that were both beautiful and complicated.
Elvis and Priscilla met when she was in ninth grade
The beginning of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship occurred in an unlikely setting—West Germany in the fall of 1959. Elvis had been stationed there since late 1958 as part of his military service in the U.S. Army. Around the same time, Priscilla’s stepfather Paul, who served in the Air Force, received orders transferring the family to Germany.
One evening while out with her younger brother, Priscilla was approached by a service member who extended an unexpected invitation. He asked if she would like to join him and his wife for a visit to meet Elvis Presley. After her stepfather verified the legitimacy of the invitation by checking with the man’s commanding officer, he gave permission for the meeting.
On that November night in 1959, Priscilla carefully selected a navy-and-white sailor dress for the occasion and traveled to Elvis’ temporary residence in Bad Nauheim. Despite immediately catching the star’s attention, she honestly revealed she was still in ninth grade. Unfazed, Elvis proceeded to perform several songs for her, including the romantic ballad “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” The evening felt magical, though Priscilla assumed it would be a one-time encounter.
Elvis and the Army
Elvis Presley’s time in military service was a significant period that shaped the early stages of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship. His enlistment demonstrated his willingness to serve his country despite his celebrity status, and it was during this time away from the spotlight that he found himself drawn to the young Priscilla. The Army experience provided a temporary escape from the demands of fame, allowing their connection to develop in a more private setting before they would eventually face public scrutiny.
The singer liked that Priscilla was young and inexperienced
Elvis found himself drawn to Priscilla for reasons that went beyond simple attraction. He noticed a striking resemblance between her and his beloved mother Gladys, whose recent death had left him emotionally devastated. This connection to his late mother added a layer of emotional significance to his interest in Priscilla.
In a conversation with his friend Rex Mansfield, Elvis revealed his true feelings about Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship, stating that she was “young enough that I can train her any way I want.” This comment reflected his desire for a partner he could shape and influence rather than someone with established independence.
Elvis wasted no time in pursuing another meeting. During their second encounter, he invited Priscilla to his room where they shared their first kiss. After four dates with the famous singer, Priscilla’s parents demanded a face-to-face meeting to understand his intentions. Paul directly questioned why a major star would be interested in his teenage daughter.
Elvis responded diplomatically, saying, “Well, sir, I happen to be very fond of her. She’s a lot more mature than her age, and I enjoy her company.” His words apparently satisfied the Beaulieus enough to allow the relationship to continue. However, Priscilla later revealed in a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she had already made up her mind regardless of their approval, admitting she basically threatened her parents by saying, “If you don’t let me go, I’ll find my way.”
Throughout the remainder of Elvis’ time in Germany, he became the focal point of Priscilla’s world. She continued attending school but found herself falling behind academically. When Elvis noticed her exhaustion, he offered her pills to help her stay alert, saying, “I want you to take these; they’ll help you stay awake during the day.” Priscilla wisely declined this offer.
The nature of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship during this period was constrained by her age. They couldn’t appear together publicly, but they still managed to spend considerable time together privately. Despite their growing closeness, they didn’t consummate their relationship. When Priscilla expressed her desire to take that step before Elvis returned to America, he gently refused, telling her, “Someday we will, Priscilla, but not now. You’re just too young.”
Elvis and Priscilla reconnected two years after he was discharged
When March 1960 arrived, Elvis completed his military service and departed Germany, leaving Priscilla behind. She maintained contact by sending letters in distinctive pink envelopes, hoping they would stand out among the mountains of fan mail Elvis received. Her parents cautioned her to be realistic, suggesting that the famous musician would likely move on and forget about their relationship.
Their predictions seemed reasonable given Elvis’ status and the distance between them, but Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship proved more resilient than expected. Elvis called her, keeping their connection alive across the miles. Then in 1962, he invited her to visit him and worked persistently to convince her parents to allow their teenage daughter to travel to Los Angeles.
Dive Deeper
Once Priscilla arrived in Los Angeles, Elvis expanded their plans to include a trip to Las Vegas. This marked a turning point in Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship, as Priscilla began adapting her lifestyle to match Elvis’ preferences. She started taking amphetamines and sleeping pills to keep pace with his nocturnal schedule, a dangerous pattern that would continue for years.
Elvis took an active role in transforming Priscilla’s appearance during this visit. He purchased new, more sophisticated outfits for her and arranged for her hair and makeup to be adjusted according to his specifications. He explicitly told her, “I like a lot of makeup,” establishing his expectations for how she should present herself.
That same year, Priscilla visited Graceland for Christmas, further deepening their bond. Elvis then proposed that she finish her high school education in Memphis, Tennessee. Priscilla was eager to accept, but her parents initially refused. She persisted in pushing the issue while Elvis worked to reassure her parents that their daughter would be living safely with his father Vernon and stepmother Dee. He also hinted at marriage plans, which helped sway their decision.
Priscilla became “Elvis’ living doll”
Eventually, the Beaulieus relented and agreed to send their daughter to Memphis. Priscilla enrolled at Immaculate Conception High School, initially staying with Vernon and Dee as promised. However, she soon moved into Graceland itself. To manage attending classes during the day while remaining available for Elvis at night, she took pills that he provided. She graduated in May 1963 while maintaining this exhausting schedule.
A distinctive aspect of Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship during this period was Elvis’ insistence on preserving what he perceived as Priscilla’s purity. Their relationship remained physically chaste, though Elvis was simultaneously involved with other women, including casual acquaintances and Hollywood co-stars. Despite the lack of traditional intimacy, they found other ways to be close. One of their preferred activities involved using Polaroid cameras to document playful scenarios, such as role-playing a student being seduced by her teacher.
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Elvis continued his project of remaking Priscilla in his image. She later described herself as “Elvis’ living doll, to fashion as he pleased.” The transformation included:
- Porcelain caps placed on her teeth
- Constant corrections to improve her posture
- Her naturally lighter hair dyed black to match his
- An updo hairstyle that mirrored his iconic pompadour
- Clothing in colors that coordinated with his outfits
Reflecting on this period in her 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Priscilla explained, “It was a different time. I lived in his world. I wanted to please him. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to have fun with him. I wanted to see what it was that he liked.”
Priscilla also began experiencing the intense public scrutiny that came with being Elvis’ girlfriend. She recalled overhearing gossip while shopping at a Beverly Hills boutique. “I heard the girl saying, ‘You know who that is? That’s the girl Elvis is dating, and they’re getting married. She’s pregnant,'” Priscilla remembered. The rumors were false—she wasn’t pregnant—but the incident opened her eyes to the constant speculation surrounding Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship.
Elvis and Priscilla didn’t have sex until their wedding night
As years passed, Priscilla found herself frequently left behind at Graceland while Elvis traveled for movie shoots. The tabloid press had begun referring to her as a “live-in Lolita,” creating potential public relations problems. Elvis’ controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, grew increasingly concerned about the negative publicity implications if they didn’t marry.
Likely influenced at least partially by Parker’s pressure, Elvis proposed to Priscilla before Christmas in 1966. Despite feeling some apprehension about the commitment, they married on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas. Elvis was 32 years old, while Priscilla was just three weeks shy of her 22nd birthday.
Their wedding night marked the first time Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship became physically intimate. Priscilla became pregnant almost immediately, which caused Elvis considerable anxiety about how fatherhood might impact his career. When Priscilla reached seven months of pregnancy, Elvis actually requested a trial separation, though they reconciled after only a brief time apart. Their daughter Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968—exactly nine months after their wedding.
The Presley Family
The birth of Lisa Marie added a new dimension to Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship, but not necessarily in positive ways. Understanding their family dynamics requires looking at the broader Presley family tree and how Lisa Marie became the sole child connecting Elvis and Priscilla even after their marriage ended.
Despite their divorce, Priscilla “wanted to die” when Elvis passed
After childbirth, Priscilla discovered Elvis had become reluctant to be intimate with her. He claimed he wanted to give her time to recover, but Priscilla later wrote that “He had mentioned before we were married that he had never been able to make love to a woman who’d had a child.” Just as before their marriage, Elvis continued sleeping with other women.
However, Priscilla was no longer content to simply wait at home for his return. She began a brief affair with the owner of a dance school. Even after the couple renewed their vows in Hawaii, Priscilla continued feeling restricted by the limitations of their marriage. As she explained to People magazine in 1978, “My life was his life. My problems were secondary.”
Still seeking fulfillment, Priscilla began an affair with her karate instructor, Mike Stone. In 1972, she finally told Elvis she was leaving. When he discovered her affair, he reportedly wanted to hire someone to kill her partner but was ultimately persuaded against taking such drastic action.
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Their divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973, but it was handled amicably. Despite ending their marriage, Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship evolved into a respectful co-parenting arrangement. Priscilla explained in a 2016 interview, “I did not divorce him because I didn’t love him. He was the love of my life, but I had to find out about the world.”
They maintained joint custody of Lisa Marie and saw each other regularly. When news reached Priscilla that Elvis had died on August 16, 1977, she was absolutely devastated. In her memoir, she wrote simply, “I wanted to die.”
Priscilla showcases their love from her point of view
For the film “Priscilla,” director Sofia Coppola drew extensively from Priscilla’s memoir and discovered additional examples of the countless ways she tried to please Elvis. These details included Priscilla applying her false eyelashes even while in labor and selecting a gun that matched her outfit when they went target shooting together.
Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley with Sandra Harmon
The memoir “Elvis and Me” serves as the primary source for understanding Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship from her perspective. Written with Sandra Harmon and published in 1985, the book provides intimate details that have shaped public understanding of their complex dynamic.
The film doesn’t avoid depicting the darker moments of their relationship. It includes a scene where Elvis loses control during a pillow fight and accidentally gives Priscilla a black eye, an incident she documented in “Elvis and Me.”
Despite showing these difficult moments, Priscilla told The Hollywood Reporter she wanted the film to demonstrate “that love was there, that the care was there.” Actress Cailee Spaeny met with Priscilla to prepare for portraying her, asking for guidance on delivering an authentic performance. Priscilla’s advice was simple: “Just be sensitive to him,” she said, referring to co-star Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis.
According to Variety, Elvis and Priscilla’s late daughter Lisa Marie had concerns about the film’s script. She sent emails to Coppola expressing her objections, writing in one message: “My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative.
As his daughter, I don’t read this and see any of my father in this character. I don’t read this and see my mother’s perspective of my father. I read this and see your shockingly vengeful and contemptuous perspective and I don’t understand why?” Coppola reportedly responded politely but maintained her creative vision.
Priscilla, who serves as an executive producer on the movie, insists that Coppola has created something beautiful while acknowledging her nervousness about public reception. “I’m so nervous because it’s my life,” she admitted. “The people who are watching, they’re living it with you, and you hope and pray that they get it.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Priscilla when she met Elvis?
Priscilla was only 14 years old when she first met Elvis Presley in Germany in 1959. Elvis was 24 at the time, creating a ten-year age gap between them.
Did Elvis and Priscilla have children together?
Yes, Elvis and Priscilla had one child together—their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who was born on February 1, 1968, nine months after their wedding.
When did Priscilla and Elvis get married?
Priscilla and Elvis were married on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 21 years old and he was 32 at the time of their wedding.
Why did Priscilla divorce Elvis?
Priscilla divorced Elvis because she needed to discover her own identity outside of being his wife. She stated “He was the love of my life, but I had to find out about the world.”
Did Priscilla remarry after Elvis?
No, Priscilla Presley never remarried after her divorce from Elvis, though she has had several significant relationships over the years since their separation.
What did Priscilla do after Elvis died?
After Elvis’ death in 1977, Priscilla became the executor of his estate and played a key role in turning Graceland into a tourist attraction, helping to preserve his legacy.
Is the movie Priscilla accurate?
The movie Priscilla is based on Priscilla’s memoir Elvis and Me and draws from her personal accounts. While Sofia Coppola took some creative liberties, Priscilla served as executive producer and approved the final film.
Final Thoughts
The relationship between Priscilla and Elvis represents one of the most fascinating and complicated love stories in entertainment history. Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship began when she was just a teenager, under circumstances that would be considered highly inappropriate by today’s standards. Yet it grew into a genuine, if deeply flawed, partnership that produced a daughter and left an indelible mark on both of their lives.
Through all the control, the transformations, the affairs, and ultimately the divorce, there remained a thread of real affection between them. Priscilla’s devastation at Elvis’ death, decades of work preserving his legacy, and her insistence that their love was real all testify to the genuine connection they shared.
Their story serves as both a fascinating glimpse into a particular moment in American cultural history and a cautionary tale about power dynamics, control, and the price of fame. Today, as new generations discover their story through films and books, Priscilla Presley and Elvis relationship continues to provoke important conversations about love, power, and what it really means to be in a partnership.
Emma is an author at MeaningsSpot, where she crafts unique and inspiring names that spark creativity. With over 3 years of content writing experience, she specializes in making words meaningful and memorable.