The schoolgirl who captured a King

In August, 1959, Priscilla Beaulieu, the 14 year old stepdaughter of a
U.S. Air Force Captain, arrived in Wiesbaden, West Germany, with her family. There was only one bright spot for her: not far away, in Bad Nauheim, Elvis Presley, the world's most famous GI, was doing his national service.
Soon, Priscilla started spending time after school at the expatriot Eagles Club, where she met Currie Grant, a friend of Elvis', who arranged a meeting. On that first visit, she wore a navy-and-white sailor dress with white socks and shoes.

Some of those who were present remember that Elvis leapt from his chair and stuttered as he introduced himself. He asked her about school, and when she told him she was in ninth grade, Elvis exclaimed, "Why, you're just a baby!" - a comment that provoked a short response from Priscilla. Then Elvis sat at the piano and began showing off like a schoolboy.

A few days later, Currie Grant called again. This time, Elvis told Priscilla he wanted to be alone with her. He stroked her hair and reassured her that he wouldn't harm her. She went upstairs first and, some minutes later, he followed, taking off his jacket and inviting her on the bed next to him. That night, he poured out his insecurities and fears, telling her of his loneliness after the death of his mother, Gladys. It was only at the end of the evening that he finally kissed her.

After the fourth date, Captain Beaulieu demanded to meet Elvis, who visisted the family home accompanied by his father, Vernon. Priscilla's stepfather quizzed Elvis about his intentions. Elvis said he was lonely and needed someone to talk to; after that, Priscilla and Elvis saw one another almost every night for the next six months.

In the evenings, they would discreetly slip up to his room, until Elvis noticed that the late nights and early starts for school were taking their toll. His solution was to give her some "uppers" that the Army gave out during manoeuvres.

It was the beginning of a bizarre non-sexual relationship that led to Priscilla becoming the teenage mistress of Graceland and attending a nearby convent school while Elvis contducted his torrid affairs elsewhere. In her biography, 'Elvis And Me' , Priscilla describes how she once begged Elvis to consummate the relationship, only to be told, "There'll be a right time and place, and when the moment comes, I'll know it." Instead, he took her shopping. Buying her absurdly sophisticated clothes, and insisting she have a makeover with a beehive hairdo and kohl-ed eyes.

Their extraordinary relationship was only finally consummated on May 1, 1967, after their wedding at the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas. Exactly nine months later, on February 1, 1968, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter, Lisa Marie. It was to signal the end of their short sex life.

Elvis had a hang-up about making love to women who had given birth and began his philandering once more. By 1969, the only real bond between them was their daughter. Angry at Elvis' rejections, Priscilla began her own affair with karate champion Mike Stone. By early 1972, Priscilla had finally had enough and, on February 23, she flew to Las Vegas to ask for a divorce. The blow to Elvis' ego was huge, and it is difficult not to trace Elvis' decline from the point when Priscilla left him.

The once golden couple were divorced on October 9, 1973, and sat in front of the judge holding hands. Priscilla was shocked by her ex-husband's bloated appearance. Were Elvis and Priscilla Presley the great loves to one another lives? Elvis' personality, and his relationships compromised so many contradictions that no one can really know for sure.

Priscilla, for her part, was adamant about what Elvis meant to her: "Over the years he became my father, husband - and very nearly God."