Priscilla Learns the Truth
About a year before meeting Elvis, Priscilla learned the truth about her stepfather. While babysitting one day, she decided to rummage through some things after her siblings went to sleep and found something shocking.
Up until that point, she believed Paul Beaulieu was her biological father. Upon seeing letters and photographs in a trunk at home, she found out that her father was James Wagner, a U.S. Navy pilot who had died in a plane crash.
Early Life
Priscilla Ann Wagner was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945. Her biological father died before her first birthday. A few years later, after her mother remarried a man named Paul Beaulieu, her name was changed to Priscilla Beaulieu.
As an officer in the United States Air Force, Beaulieu moved the family around frequently, and in 1956 they found themselves in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Stuck in Her Emotions
After learning the truth about her biological father, Pricilla went through a few phases. First, there was denial — telling herself it’s somebody else. Then there was the shock of feeling betrayed and lied to.
She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she was almost in hysterics. She called her mother immediately after finding the photos demanding that she come home and explain. It was a tough moment for the two of them.
Meeting Elvis
It was in Germany where Priscilla met Elvis for the first time. In 1959, while serving time in the United States Army, he had a party at his overseas house. Priscilla attended the party, despite being just 14-years-old.
Even though Elvis was already a household name, he was shy and boyish around Priscilla. He was smitten and later told his friend Rex Mansfield that Priscilla was young enough for him to "tame".
Where Have You Been, Young Lady?
Priscilla came home from the party late, angering her parents. They interrogated her and ultimately forbade her from seeing the musician again. However, Elvis was able to convince her parents to relent.
Like a true Southern gentleman, he showed up to their house in full uniform to win them over. And it worked! The two were frequently spotted spending time together after that.