Lisa Marie Presley — the only child of the late legendary singer Elvis Presley and his ex-wife, actress and businesswoman Priscilla Ann Presley — was a singer and songwriter. She was born into fame and fortune; her journey wasn’t a walk in the park. She experienced her share of troubles, including a highly publicized divorce and a bitter custody battle that lasted almost five years.
The singer had four children from two different marriages. Her youngest are fraternal twins Harper and Finley, whom she loved dearly. The twins, who recently celebrated their 15th birthday, have gone through a lot of changes and challenges in their lives, especially after their parents’ divorce and the subsequent death of their mother.
The Twins’ Arrival and Growing Up in the Spotlight
Harper and Finley were born via cesarean section on October 7, 2008, to Lisa Marie and her husband, Michael Lockwood, a guitarist and producer. At the time of their birth, Lisa Marie, who was 40 years old, had two teenage children from her first marriage to Danny Keough: a daughter named Riley and a son named Benjamin.
The twins were born with a flair for showbiz running in their veins, which is no surprise considering their mother and grandfather’s musical talent and charisma, not to mention their father, Lockwood, is also in the entertainment industry.
The girls didn’t want to be just spectators when they tagged along to shows. Their mother revealed they wanted a piece of the action, and they’d be itching to grab a mic and hit the dance floor. She added:+
“At home, they act out scenes and have everybody sit down and watch them. They’re entertaining as hell.”
The entertainment gene is not the only thing Harper and Finley inherited. Glamor is part of the family package, too. One time, when preparing to go on tour, Lisa Marie shared that she had another mission to carry out, courtesy of her twins. They had turned her into a princess dress detective, scouring the cities and towns she toured for dresses befitting her little fashionistas’ style.
The twins’ happy childhood was disrupted by their parents’ divorce, which Lisa Marie filed in June 2016 after ten years of marriage. The divorce was messy and bitter, with allegations of financial mismanagement by Lockwood, who was in charge of his wife’s assets. At the time, her lawyer stated:
Lisa Marie claimed that Lockwood was not a good father and that he had inappropriate photos of children on his computer. On these grounds, Lisa filed for full custody of the twins. Lockwood denied the accusations and accused her of ruining his reputation.
In retaliation, he filed for custody and spousal support. Amid this heated battle, rumors and speculations started going around that the girls had been placed in foster care. But in February 2017, Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla, cleared the air in a Facebook post.
She stated that her granddaughters were staying with her and had never been in foster care, nor would they ever be. She also clarified that they would be with her until the end of the custody battle. She reported that efforts were underway to handle matters with dignity and care, mainly keeping the well-being of the children in mind.
The twins also faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected their schooling and social life. However, they found a way to cope and help others by fostering puppies from a local animal shelter. Lisa Marie posted a photo of them holding an adorable dog and wrote, “We’ve been fostering pups from a shelter. Exhausting but so rewarding.”
After the protracted custody battle, Lisa Marie and Lockwood’s divorce proceedings concluded in May 2021, and the former spouses maintained joint custody of their twin daughters.
The twins suffered a devastating loss in January 2023 when their mother, Lisa Marie, died at 54. The cause of death was complications from a bariatric weight-loss surgery, which she had undergone several years earlier.
The autopsy report indicated that the cause of death was attributed to the effects of bowel obstruction, a common complication associated with weight loss procedures like bariatric surgery.
She had been rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after a 911 call reported a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. The report noted that she had complained of stomach pain earlier that day. She was laid to rest on January 22 in a funeral held at Graceland, the cherished home of her childhood that has since become a museum and pilgrimage site for Elvis enthusiasts.
Lisa Marie’s untimely demise left a void in the lives of her loved ones, including her three surviving children — her eldest daughter Riley and the twins Harper and Finley. Tragically, her son, Benjamin, had passed away in 2020. Her death was a big blow to the twins, who were only 14 at the time of her passing.
In response to the sudden and tragic passing of his ex-wife, Lockwood paid tribute to her in a statement in which he expressed profound grief, emphasizing the incomprehensibility of such an unexpected tragedy.
He said, “We are all reeling from the sudden passing of Lisa Marie Presley, the mother of my two beautiful twin daughters, Harper and Finley.” He acknowledged the paramount importance of caring for their twin daughters as they navigated their loss, highlighting their incredible spirit and their capacity to carry on the legacy of their family.
Living with Their Father After Long Custody Battle
After Lisa Marie’s death, the court transferred the custody of the twins to their father. The court ruled that Lockwood was the more suitable guardian as he was deemed “ready, able, and willing to protect their interests.” This decision raised internal concerns among insiders, speculating whether this aligned with their late mother’s wishes.
According to their father’s lawyer, Lockwood had a legal obligation and a moral commitment to safeguard the twins’ interests, emphasizing his positive and familial relationship with all parties involved.
The twins are now with their father and are attending high school. Priscilla posted a photo of them in June and wrote, “Happy Graduation girls! You’re now in high school!”
The twins recently celebrated their 15th birthday, a milestone for them and their family. On October 8, a day after their birthday, Lockwood posted a picture with gifts and birthday decorations and wrote, “#fifteenyears it goes by in a blink of an eye 👁️ Mega amounts of love abound. 🙏🏼 Many Thanks to everyone who sent.”
Based on posts and photos on social media, the twins seem to be close to their older sister, Riley. The twins have grown into stunning young ladies who, according to fans, have strong Presley genes and bear a striking resemblance to their mother and grandfather, and one of them has blonde hair.
The twins have overcome many hardships and changes in their lives but have also experienced much love and joy. They have a bright future ahead of them, and they have the support of their father, sister, grandmother, and fans. They are the living legacy of their mother, Lisa Marie.