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.
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.
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.
Trying to Save the Marriage
After her affair, Priscilla made an effort to save her marriage by imitating the styles of major Hollywood actresses. She thought that by appearing trendy and flawless she could keep her husband from straying to another woman. Priscilla would also act out her husband’s sexual fantasies hoping it would bring them closer together.
However, according to her autobiography, his thrill standards were higher than this, especially when he had taken certain substances. In 1968, Elvis’ music career started to take off again with his television special, and he was traveling more often than not, leading to more marriage problems.
Prioritizing
Priscilla began to realize that she wasn’t a priority in her husband’s life. "My life was his life," she said in a 1978 interview with People Magazine. "My problems were secondary."
At the time, Elvis was known for being a fan or karate, often taking lessons as a hobby. When he suggested that Priscilla take up the sport to dull her restlessness while he was on tour, she jumped at the chance, hoping it would fix things. Little did she know, it would ultimately lead to the end of her marriage.