Priscilla Presley is currently at war with her granddaughter Riley Keough over the will of Lisa Marie Presley, who died two months ago of a heart attack at the age of 54. The feud escalated in a big way on Tuesday during a brief court hearing in Los Angeles family court.
Inside Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough's Fight Over Lisa Marie's Trust: 'They Don't See Eye to Eye' pic.twitter.com/YqPINpIBGI
— People (@people) March 8, 2023
Custody Battle Comes To An End
Daily Mail reported that the hearing in question ended the bitter seven-year child custody battle Lisa Marie had spent her final years fighting against her ex-husband Michael Lockwood over their twin daughters Harper and Finely, who are now 14 years-old.
Priscilla, 77, raised no objection to Lockwood taking the girls, leaving Riley, 33, furious because she feels like she’s “losing” the twins to the “outsider” Lockwood. While California law dictates that that when one parent dies, the surviving parent is given full custody, Priscilla could have filed legal paperwork as the girls’ grandmother to fight this, but she didn’t do so.
Riley had always taken Lisa Marie’s side in the custody battle, while Priscilla is rumored to have long sided with Lockwood. Lisa Marie was reportedly so livid about this that it’s been alleged that she was “barely speaking” to her mother in the months before her death.
Lockwood is also said to have aligned with Priscilla in the battle over Lisa Marie’s will, which means he could be gearing up to help her take on Riley in court.
Lisa Marie Presley's Ex Michael Lockwood Likely To Be Granted Full Custody Of Twins He Shared With Lisa Marie Presley. pic.twitter.com/HnFbuMUsSs
— True Elvis Fan 4Life 🕺🎸🎤 (@ElvisNumber1) March 15, 2023
Related: Priscilla Presley’s Granddaughter Allegedly Locks Her Out Of Elvis’ Graceland Mansion
Riley Angry Over Lockwood Coming To Lisa Marie’s Funeral
Riley was additionally alleged to be angry that Priscilla brought Michael to Lisa Marie’s funeral at Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate with her.
“Riley was always on her mom’s side when it came to Michael (Lockwood),” one source told People Magazine. “It bothered her that her grandmother and Michael flew to (Lisa Marie’s) funeral together.”
“Michael was not invited,” added a close friend of Lisa Marie. “He came to Memphis under the pretense that he had to chaperone the twins – and he forced his way in with Priscilla’s help. The last thing Lisa Marie would have wanted was for Michael to be there.”
Riley was already angry that her grandmother was contesting her mother’s will in the first place. Just days after Lisa Marie died, Priscilla filed a petition questioning the “authenticity and validity” of a 2016 amendment to the will that named Lisa Marie’s two adult children, Riley and Benjamin Keough, as her only heirs. Benjamin sadly committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 27.
If Priscilla gets her way, she and Riley will be co-trustees of Lisa Marie’s estate, but neither woman wants the other involved.
“Priscilla doesn’t want Riley solely in charge, because then she has no say. Meanwhile, Riley doesn’t want Priscilla to butt in,” a source recently claimed. “It’s a very sad situation. Riley is shocked Priscilla is contesting the amendment. They do not see eye to eye.”
#PriscillaPresley made her first public appearance since the unexpected death of her daughter, #LisaMariePresley. pic.twitter.com/Yh373V08yT
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) March 8, 2023
Related: Priscilla Presley Goes To War Over Lisa Marie’s Will – Takes On Her Own Granddaughter
Tensions Rise
Priscilla’s petition is scheduled to go to court on April 13, and tensions have been rising between her and Riley for weeks.
“It has been a very tense and heartbreaking few weeks for both Riley and Priscilla,” a source told Entertainment Tonight last month. “Riley has been mourning the loss of her mother and is heartbroken to have to deal with a trust dispute with a family member. Priscilla is adamant that she has a valid case and that she will prevail in court. Riley and Priscilla aren’t communicating at this time, but have been in communication through lawyers.”
This source went on to say that “they are both gearing up for court, Riley would prefer to settle this dispute privately.”
“She is heartbroken that this has turned into a public matter and knows her mother would never want this,” the source continued.
It’s sad to watch the family of Elvis be torn apart by money, right before our very eyes. We can only hope that Priscilla and Riley are somehow able to come to an agreement that will allow them to have a relationship of some kind moving forward, because it would be tragic for them to let this destroy their bond as grandmother and granddaughter forever.