Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s relationship is a legendary tale that has captivated the hearts of many.
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll first met Priscilla when she was just 14 years old, while he was 24, in 1959.
Despite their significant age difference, Elvis saw potential in molding Priscilla into his ideal woman.
In the beginning, she embraced his influence, but as time went on, she yearned for more control over her own life.
This ultimately led to the downfall of their marriage, and they divorced in 1973 after six years together.
However, Priscilla still cherishes the memories of her iconic ex-husband, who tragically passed away in 1977.
She penned a memoir in 1985, recounting their courtship and marriage, which serves as the basis for a new biopic featuring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as the famous couple.
Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film is now available to stream on major platforms such as , , and Vudu.
Let’s delve into the intricate details of their tumultuous yet affectionate relationship.
Elvis and Priscilla crossed paths when she was in ninth grade.
At the time, Elvis was stationed in West Germany in 1958 as part of his U.S. Army service.
Priscilla had recently moved to the country due to her stepfather’s transfer by the Air Force.
One day, while out with her younger brother, Priscilla was approached by a service member who invited her to meet Elvis.
After receiving approval from her stepfather, she visited Elvis at his temporary home in Bad Nauheim wearing a navy-and-white sailor dress.
Despite confessing that she was only a ninth-grader, Priscilla caught Elvis’ attention.
He serenaded her with songs like “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”
Little did she know that this encounter would be the start of something extraordinary.
Elvis saw a resemblance between Priscilla and his late mother, Gladys, who had a profound impact on his life.
He confided in his friend Rex Mansfield, stating that Priscilla was young enough for him to shape according to his desires.
Elvis longed for Priscilla to visit him again, and on their second meeting, he invited her to his room, where they shared their first kiss.
After going on several “dates” with Elvis, Priscilla’s parents insisted on meeting him in person.
During the meeting, her stepfather asked why a star like Elvis was interested in their teenage daughter.
Elvis responded by expressing his fondness for her and emphasizing her maturity beyond her age.
The Beaulieus were charmed enough to allow Priscilla to continue seeing Elvis, even though her parents initially had reservations.
Despite their blossoming connection, Priscilla made it clear that she would have defied her parents’ wishes if they had disapproved of her relationship with Elvis.
She recalled threatening them, saying she would find her own way if they didn’t let her be with him.
During Elvis’ remaining time in Germany, Priscilla became the center of his world.
Although she continued attending school, she fell behind due to the fatigue caused by her commitments to Elvis.
He offered her pills to help her stay awake during the day, but she declined.
While their age difference prevented them from going out in public together, they still found ways to spend time with each other.
The only aspect missing from their relationship was physical intimacy.
As Elvis neared the end of his army service, Priscilla expressed her desire to take their relationship to the next level, but he believed she was still too young.
Two years after being discharged from the army, Elvis and Priscilla reconnected.
In 1960, Elvis had completed his military enlistment in Germany.
Priscilla continued to write letters to him, using pink envelopes to make them stand out among his fan mail.
Despite her parents’ skepticism about their relationship lasting, Elvis surprised Priscilla by calling her.
He even asked her to visit him in Los Angeles, going to great lengths to convince her parents to allow their teenage daughter to travel.
Their trip also included a visit to Las Vegas.
During their time in Las Vegas, Priscilla began adjusting her lifestyle to match Elvis’.
She started taking amphetamines and sleeping pills to keep up with his nocturnal schedule.
Elvis also bought her new, more mature clothing and made sure her hair and makeup were to his liking.
He expressed his preference for heavy makeup, saying, “I like a lot of makeup.”
Priscilla also experienced her first Christmas at Graceland, Elvis’ home.
Afterward, he proposed the idea of her finishing high school in Memphis, Tennessee, something she desperately wanted.
Her parents were initially against the idea, but Priscilla persisted while Elvis assured them that she