Priscilla Presley Wishes To 'Protect' Grandkids On Lisa Marie's Posthumous Birthday

It has been a challenging couple of weeks for the Presleys ever since the untimely passing of Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of the iconic Elvis Presley and his ex-wife Priscilla Presley.

LMP passed away on January 12, 2023, after suffering a cardiac arrest less than a month before her birthday on Wednesday, February 1. 

And in honor of the special yet distressing day, her mother memorialized her with heartfelt wishes amid her dispute to take control of the deceased's estate from her grandkids.

The bereaved mother recently marked her daughter's posthumous birthday on social media, revealing that LMP would have turned 55. She seemed to have her grandchildren's interests at heart as she expressed so while paying homage to her only daughter.

On Instagram, she uploaded five pictures, all showing her with her daughter from a young age to her most recent self, before her demise. In one heartwarming throwback image, Priscilla carried a napping Lisa Marie as an infant, while another black-and-white photo featured the late Elvis and showed the trio as a young family.

The mother and daughter pair looked delightful in a more current snap as they posed for the camera with the late songstress beaming while her mom gave a subtle smile.

"Today would have been Lisa's 55th birthday," Priscilla wrote in the caption. "My wish is to protect my three grandchildren and keep our family together." She continued, "From the first moment I held Lisa in my arms, I've protected, loved, and guided her as I have my son. Our hearts are broken, and I am having to learn to live without my only daughter."

The 77-year-old did not exclude her supporters from the message as she conveyed genuine love, appreciating them for their prayers amid these trying times.

"Thank you so much for caring deeply for our family," she concluded, signing off with a rose emoji and her name. Sympathy poured in from everywhere for the heartbroken mother, with many advising her to stay strong while a few pointed out her contest for the deceased's will from her granddaughter Riley Keough.

A commenter remarked, "Wow, it doesn't look like the same person who is fighting with her granddaughter over an inheritance that doesn't suit her right."

A second user added, "She forgets to say she is disputing her daughter's will," before another wrote that Priscilla should not be battling with Riley over money that is not hers. The same commenter then noted that her overstepping was not a good look since it was LMP's choice to exclude her from the will. 

A third fan, however, sided with Priscilla, writing, "So sad… I hope Riley knows it's in her and her sister's best interest to keep Mr Lockwood from having any control in the Presley estate until the twins are of age to assist Riley in protecting Graceland. It's not his place in any form, considering what he previously put Lisa through… he is also not a Presley!"

Per reports, more than a decade before the death of the Hollywood star, she appointed her mother and former business manager, Barry Siegel, as co-trustees of her estate in a restatement. By 2020, another legal document showed the duo consenting to be co-trustees

However, following LMP's passing, a 2016 record was discovered, amending the 2010 Trust and removing Siegel and Priscilla as trustees. The document replaced them with the "Storm & Grace" star's kids Riley and Benjamin as successors of her estate; unfortunately, Benjamin took his life in 2020.

Priscilla recently filed to contest the will, and in the court records obtained by The Blast, she pointed out numerous issues surrounding the "authenticity and validity" of the 2016 amendment. One such issue was her misspelled name along with LMP's alleged signature, a far cry from her "usual and customary signature."

The septuagenarian also noted that there was no witness to the fact prompting her to appeal for the initial 2010 Trust to be confirmed and validated to put her back in control of her daughter's estate.

Amid Priscilla's mourning for the saddening loss of her daughter, she sent a note of gratitude to fans via Twitter for their support which could not have been more helpful to her

As The Blast reported, the Elvis Presley Enterprises co-founder admitted that she was "truly overwhelmed" with fans' "words, prayers, and love" that comforted her as she got through her grief.

She then ended the short message by saying every parent who had lost a child could relate to the "dark painstaking journey" she endured.

Almost immediately, numerous fans sent her heartening messages, with many commending her for being strong amid the hardship, including one who described her strength as "so inspiring."