The Couple Welcomes A Child
Lisa Marie Presley was born on February 1, 1968, precisely nine months after the couple’s wedding. From the outside, their relationship may have seemed picture-perfect, but they couldn’t be further from that.
At eight months pregnant, Elvis shocked his wife by asking for a trial separation, during which time he was reportedly having an affair with a co-star. The separation was short, however, it was strained even further after their daughter was born.
A Bun in the Oven
The couple held a second reception for all the friends who weren't there for the first time. It was at their home at Graceland after returning home from their honeymoon.
Shortly after, Priscilla learned she was pregnant. Both her and Elvis were disappointed to become parents so soon after getting married, and even considered terminating the pregnancy. While Priscilla likely felt she was too young, Elvis was concerned that fatherhood would have a negative impact on his career and that his wife would use motherhood as an excuse to let herself go.
Controlling
Even though Priscilla enjoyed being a housewife, Elvis became increasingly possessive. He felt the need to control his wife’s every move, including the times she was allowed to clean their home.
The musician continued to choose what Priscilla wore and became obsessed over her maintaining her youthful appearance. He would regularly slap her forehead and call attention to her facial expressions that might one day lead to wrinkles. As his controlling behaviors worsened, so did his anger. He would often carry around a small handgun and was known for shooting his television if he saw something that he didn’t like.
Intimacy Issues
After the birth of Lisa Marie, Elvis became reluctant to share a bed with his wife. He claimed to want to give Priscilla time to heal after giving birth, but according to her autobiography, there may have been more to it than that.
According to her, Elvis mentioned he had trouble making love to a woman who’d given birth. With this added strain on their relationship and the continued rumors of her husband’s affairs, it wasn’t long before Priscilla found herself seeking companionship elsewhere.
Priscilla’s Affair
In 1968, Priscilla began to fill her time while her husband was away taking dance classes. Tired of being left home alone with Lisa Marie while Elvis was gallivanting around with other women, she ended up making a romantic connection with her dance instructor.
The affair was short and something she would later regret, but it helped her learn a lot about herself. She realized she was more than just her connection to the singer.