Priscilla Presley Reveals Elvis Respected That She Was Only 14 When They Were In Love
The love story of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, often referred to as the King and his Queen, is a captivating tale that transcended the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world. Their age gap was one of the things people could not stop talking about. Priscilla was only 14 years old, while Elvis was 24. Even so, Priscilla stated that the King of Rock and Roll ’respected’ that she was only a teenager when they were in love.
The beginning
Elvis and Priscilla crossed paths in Germany back in 1959. At the time, Elvis was stationed there as a U.S. Army serviceman, while Priscilla’s family had relocated due to her father’s Air Force assignment. Someone invited Priscilla to visit Elvis at his residence one day, and she eagerly accepted. During their encounter, Priscilla caught the singer’s eye, prompting him to serenade her with a couple of songs, even though she admitted she was just a 9th grader.
Reflecting on that moment, Priscilla recalled, “I saw Elvis trying to get my attention. I noticed that the less response I showed, the more he began singing just for me. I couldn’t believe that Elvis Presley was trying to impress me.”
Initially, Priscilla doubted whether Elvis would ever call her again and believed their first date might also be their last. Yet, against her expectations, he did reach out. After a few days, Priscilla’s parents felt meeting their daughter’s crush in person was essential.
She remembers that Elvis arrived dressed impeccably in his uniform, a sight that greatly pleased her father. The two men engaged in a lengthy conversation, and eventually, Priscilla’s parents were so charmed by Elvis that they allowed the young couple to continue seeing each other.
Priscilla was a strikingly beautiful young girl who caught the attention of many boys at her school. She fondly recalls a particular incident when a picture of her wearing a form-fitting sweater was mysteriously taken from the school bulletin board. Given Priscilla’s tender age, it wasn’t appropriate for her and Elvis to be seen together publicly, but they continued to secretly rendezvous.
Elvis appreciated Priscilla’s innocence and youth; their age difference posed no obstacle for him. He viewed it as an opportunity to shape the ideal partner for himself. He once confided in a friend, saying, “She’s young enough that I can train her any way I want.”
Priscilla vividly remembers Elvis confiding in her about his vision of the perfect woman and his aspiration to shape her into that ideal. “On nights when his mood was calm and peaceful,” she recalls, “he would describe his ideal woman and tell me how perfectly I fit this image. He liked soft-spoken brunettes with blue eyes. He wanted to mold me into his opinions and preferences. Fidelity was very important to him, especially on the woman’s part.”
Elvis ’Respected’ Their Age Gap
In a recent interview, Priscilla spoke candidly about the age gap between her and Elvis. She stated that he always ’respected’ her age.
“People often think, ’Oh, it was all about sex.’ But no, it wasn’t,” the pop culture icon said during a Venice Film Festival press conference for her upcoming movie, Priscilla.
“I never had sex with him. He was very kind, very gentle, very loving, but he also respected the fact that I was only 14 years old. Our connection was more about shared thoughts and understanding; that was the essence of our relationship,” she added."
ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News
Even though the couple didn’t mind the age gap, it wasn’t the case for Priscilla’s parents. However, she insisted that her soul was somewhat older despite being only 14 years old.
“It was very difficult for my parents to understand why Elvis would be so interested in me and how. I truly believe it was because I was more of a listener. Elvis would pour his heart out to me in every way while we were in Germany: his fears, his hopes, the loss of his mother — something he never, ever got over. I was the one who truly sat there, listened, and comforted him. That was the essence of our connection.”
“Even though I was 14, I felt a bit older in terms of life experiences — not in terms of age. That was the attraction,” she noted.
Marriage and family life
In 1960, Elvis departed Germany, while Priscilla and her family remained there. They would occasionally reunite when Elvis invited her to the United States. This pattern persisted for several years before they eventually tied the knot. Those years left Priscilla feeling as if time stood still as she eagerly awaited Elvis’s sporadic calls and counted down the days until their next rendezvous. During this time, she couldn’t escape the rumors circulating about Elvis’s romantic involvements with other women, ranging from neighbors to celebrities.
Elvis proposed to Priscilla in 1966, and they exchanged vows in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. Elvis, feeling the weight of potential scandal, chose to marry her. He continued his efforts to shape Priscilla into his ideal partner. Priscilla, who later described herself as “Elvis’s living doll,” underwent transformations like getting porcelain dental caps, refining her posture, dyeing her hair black, and styling it in an updo to conform to the image of the King.
On February 1, 1968, Priscilla welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie. However, after becoming a mother, Priscilla sensed Elvis’s interest in her waned. Much like before their marriage, he continued to engage in romantic entanglements with other women, and Priscilla frequently discovered love letters addressed to her husband. Over time, she realized she could no longer endure this and wait for him at home.
In one of her interviews, she expressed, “My life was his life. He had to be happy. My problems were secondary. I want to grow. I want to do things.” Priscilla grew weary of the pressure to conform to her husband’s expectations. She openly admitted that she never appeared in front of him without makeup and never dressed in his presence, as he preferred to witness the finished look.
Divorce and the King’s decline
In 1972, Priscilla informed Elvis of her decision to leave him, leading to their subsequent divorce and a shared custody arrangement for their daughter. As a newly single woman, Priscilla flourished and worked towards taking control of her own life. Meanwhile, Elvis grappled with prescription drug addiction and financial troubles. He engaged in several romantic relationships following his divorce from Priscilla and even proposed to Ginger Alden.
However, their marriage plans never materialized. Tragically, on August 16, 1977, Elvis was found dead at the age of 42. Priscilla was devastated by the news and found it nearly impossible to accept. She had hoped that Elvis might have sought refuge in a hospital, hidden from the public eye for a while, and eventually returned. She later revealed, “It was shocking. Like to the world, only a million times more.”
Despite their divorce and the strains in their marriage, Priscilla and Elvis maintained a close connection. She fondly recalls how he would reach out to share his worries; each call was a cherished moment for her. Following their divorce, Priscilla embarked on her career as an actress and a successful businesswoman. While she never remarried, she did have a long-term relationship that resulted in the birth of her son, Navarone.
Priscilla opened Graceland to tourists to sustain the legacy of the home they once shared as a family. This allowed her to cover taxes and bills without selling the cherished property. Graceland has since become the second most visited residence in the USA, trailing only the White House in popularity. Priscilla remains dedicated to preserving the fond memories of her ex-husband, actively participating in events celebrating his music and still referring to him as “the love of her life.”
Despite an age gap, Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s enduring love persisted beyond their divorce, demonstrating the enduring power of their bond. Their story serves as a timeless reminder that true connections can withstand the test of time and circumstance, inspiring us all to cherish the love and friendship we hold dear.
Preview photo credit EAST NEWS, ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News
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