"I loved Elvis very much as he loved me," Priscilla Presley said.
In a recent statement shared by Priscilla Presley with PEOPLE on February 3 regarding the late Lisa Marie Presley's trust, Priscilla said, "I loved Elvis very much as he loved me. Lisa is a result of our love." In a recent tribute to Lisa Marie on what would have been her 55th birthday, Priscilla wrote, "My wish is to protect my three grandchildren and keep our family together." And in the current statement, she has made it clear that she will do so with "integrity and love."
Reports surrounding the speculations around the legal battle for the control of the said trust were the primary reason for Priscilla to release this statement. Speaking of the family legacy, Priscilla added that if anyone is unable to honor the love she and Elvis had for each other, it would "be a travesty of the family legacy and would be disrespectful of what Elvis left behind in his life."
In the statement, she also expressed her discontent and concern about an individual who "is trying to speak on behalf of our family." She stated that the said person is "not a representative of Elvis or our family."
Priscilla further requested everyone to give the family the time they need "to work together and sort this out." She also added, "Please ignore 'the noise.' As I have always been there for Elvis' legacy, our family, and the fans, I will continue to forge a pathway forward with respect, honesty, dignity, integrity, and love."
While the statement does not mention any name, Joel Weinshanker, managing partner at Elvis Presley Enterprises, recently made an appearance on Sirius XM's Elvis Radio and shared about a 2016 amendment made by Lisa Marie in the trust document putting daughter Riley Keough in charge. He said that Lisa Marie and he "were both trying to do what was best for Elvis."
He also mentioned his discussions with Lisa Marie regarding Riley Keough and the late Benjamin Keough "would be the stewards" of the trust. Attorneys for Priscilla filed a petition in Los Angeles in January questioning the "authenticity and validity" of a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie's trust, which removed Priscilla as a co-trustee and put Keough in charge.
The petition mentioned various factors, including a name misspelling and the fact that Lisa Marie did not deliver the changes to Priscilla as required by the terms of the trust, thereby voiding the amendment.
The hearing for the matter is set for April 13.
References:
https://people.com/music/priscilla-presley-slams-noise-amid-lisa-marie-presley-trust-battle/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Stuart C. Wilson; (R) Keystone
