Lisa Marie Presley: Mourners pay tribute at Graceland as Sarah Ferguson and others speak

Lisa Marie Presley’s eldest daughter dropped baby news during a heartfelt tribute to her mother at a star-studded memorial.

Lisa Marie Presley’s eldest daughter, Riley Keough, revealed she and her husband had recently welcomed a secret daughter.

Family, friends and countless Elvis Presley fans gathered at Graceland in Memphis to honour Lisa Marie Presley at a “celebration of life”.

The memorial started at 9am Sunday local time with a performance of “Amazing Grace,” and producer Joel Weinshanker made opening remarks, saying Lisa Marie left instructions for her memorial and asked to “Not make it sad.”

Keough, 33, was listed on the program to speak at the service, but instead her husband, Australian stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen, read a statement on her behalf.

“Thank you for being my mother in this life,” her message began, per Page Six.

“I’m eternally grateful.”

In the letter, Keough revealed she and her husband recently welcomed a secret daughter.

“Thank you for showing me love is the only thing that matters in this life. I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters,” the letter from Keough to her late mother read in part.

Australian Ben Smith-Petersen reads a tribute by his wife Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presley's daughter, at the public memorial for Lisa Marie Presley. Picture: AFP

Priscilla Presley speaks at the public memorial for Lisa Marie Presley at Graceland. Picture: Getty Images for ABA

The service was held on the front lawn of Elvis Presley’s famed mansion and, as expected, some notable names turned up to pay their respects to the only child of “the King.”

Austin Butler, who played Elvis in the new movie directed by Baz Luhrmann, arrived with Kaia Gerber.

Mourners sat in front of a stage set up in front of the mansion and its famous white columns and stone lions.

The stage was decorated with lush flowers and plants, a grand piano and large photos of Lisa Marie.

Billy Corgan performs on stage at the public memorial for Lisa Marie Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. Picture: Getty Images

Noted people who performed or spoke in remembrance of the singer-songwriter and actor who died of a heart attack on January 12 included Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and Sarah Ferguson.

The Duchess of York was billed in the program as delivering a remembrance that was a “tribute to the children”, and she revealed to the assembled mourners that dear friend Lisa Marie used to call her “Sissy”.

She also shared that the Queen advised her that “grief is the price we pay for love,” and she pledged her help to the surviving children of Lisa Marie – Riley, Finley and Harper.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, speaks at the public memorial for Lisa Marie Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. Picture: Getty Images

“I think she’s with Ben now,” the royal exclusively told Page Six on Saturday at the Memphis airport, where she had flown in from the UK ahead of Presley’s memorial service at Graceland.

After the Duchess left the stage, Alanis Morissette got up and sang her song Rest to piano accompaniment.

Alanis Morissette performs on stage at the public memorial for Lisa Marie Presley. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Following Morissette’s song, longtime Presley family friend and Lisa Marie’s manager Jerry Schilling revealed that she was the first baby he had ever held.

He also shared her last words after her unsteady red carpet appearance at the Golden Globes: “Jerry Schilling, I love you.”

Priscilla Presley read a poem written by her grandchildren Harper and Finley in which it was said that Lisa Marie passed away from a broken heart over her son, Benjamin who died by suicide in 2020.

Axl Rose performs November Rain at the public memorial. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Axl Rose spoke and said Lisa Marie was “very proud” of the movie Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann. He then performed a piano rendition of November Rain.

The live service ended with a gospel performance, and then the live stream ended with a recording of Elvis and Lisa Marie singing Where No One Stands Alone.

After the service, there was a procession to Lisa Marie’s final resting place in Meditation Garden, a spot in Graceland’s backyard where other Presley family members have been laid to rest, including Elvis and her son.

The sarcophagus of her late son, Benjamin Storm, was moved to make room in Graceland’s famous Meditation Garden.

Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood shared custody of their twins at the time of her death. Picture: AFP

Fans visit the grave of Lisa Marie Presley during her memorial on January 22, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley, 54, was the only child of American singer Elvis Presley. Picture: AFP

Lisa Marie suffered a cardiac arrest while she was at home on January 12.

According to TMZ her housekeeper found her unresponsive, and after paramedics resuscitated her, she was transported to a hospital where she died that evening after suffering a second cardiac arrest.

Presley grew up fearing her own mortality after she found her father Elvis dead in his bathroom at Graceland when she was nine.

She often spoke of her own death and even referred to the backyard at the Graceland estate as a “graveyard”.

Lisa Marie Presley and daughters Riley, Harper and Finley. Picture: Supplied

Fans gather to pay their respects at the memorial for Lisa Marie Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley, 54, the only child of American singer Elvis Presley. Picture: Justin Ford/Getty Images

It comes as the ex-husband of Lisa Marie Presley will reportedly get full custody of their twins following the tragic death of Elvis’s daughter.

Finley and Harper have reportedly said they want to live with him full time following their mother’s death.

There had been reports that Lisa Marie’s ex Danny Keough might attempt to get custody after moving back into her home to support her full-time.

Originally published as Lisa Marie Presley: Mourners pay tribute at Graceland as Sarah Ferguson and others speak