Necklace With Ties to Both a Royal Mistress and a Hit Hollywood Movie Goes on Display in London

A piece King Edward VII once gave his mistress was later worn by Meryl Streep in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ — and is now back in the U.K.

<p>Hancocks London;Everett</p> (L) The Lillie Langtry necklace, and (R) Meryl Streep wearing the necklace as Miranda Priestly in

Hancocks London;Everett

(L) The Lillie Langtry necklace, and (R) Meryl Streep wearing the necklace as Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada'

A necklace with connections to both royalty and Hollywood is going on display at Hancocks London.

The Lillie Langtry necklace, made by Hancocks & Co. and given by King Edward VII to his mistress of the same name, is returning home to London after “an extraordinary journey around the world,” according to a release. The necklace, dated circa 1870s, appeared on stage in the West End in the late 1800s and made its way to the United States, where it was even worn on the neck of Meryl Streep in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. It is now back at Hancocks London, the jewelers that originally made the piece following a commission from the then-Prince of Wales (and later, King Edward VII).

<p>Hancocks London</p> The Lillie Langtry necklace, which will be on display at Hancocks London as of October 2024

Hancocks London

The Lillie Langtry necklace, which will be on display at Hancocks London as of October 2024

“The Prince of Wales commissioned Hancocks to make this piece for his mistress at the time, Lillie Langtry, who was regarded as one of the most glamorous and beautiful society women of her era,” Guy Burton, managing director of Hancocks London, said in a release. “He was known to be deeply enamored with Ms. Langtry and is believed to have presented her with the necklace during their time together, marking it as a token of affection from a royal admirer.”

Burton said it made sense for the former Prince of Wales to commission the Egyptian Revival necklace for Langtry, as she was appearing as the Egyptian queen Cleopatra in the West End. (In addition to her acting career, Langtry was also a socialite and built a successful business empire before her death in 1929.)

According to family sources, the necklace was worn by Langtry on the opening night of Antony and Cleopatra at the Princess Theatre in 1890. (It was later replaced by a larger stage copy for her continued performances.) Over a century later, Streep wore the piece while playing fashion editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, “introducing the historic piece to a new generation and adding a layer of Hollywood glamor to its rich provenance,” the statement continued.

Tying it all up with a bow, to coincide with the West End production of The Devil Wears Prada, the history-packed necklace will be on display at Hancocks London from early October.

Related: The Devil Wears Prada Is Back! All About the Sequel to the 2006 Film

<p>W. & D. Downey/Hulton Archive/Getty</p> Lillie Langtry in costume for her role as Cleopatra in 'Antony and Cleopatra'

W. & D. Downey/Hulton Archive/Getty

Lillie Langtry in costume for her role as Cleopatra in 'Antony and Cleopatra'

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The necklace was designed as a graduated fringe, according to Hancocks London, and features motifs such as a winged enamel scarab, a large faience scarab and a carved carnelian shell. It has tassels of coral drops, ram’s heads, turquoise cabochons and carved moonstones, and a patterned yellow gold neck chain with a serpent’s head clasp completes the piece, “which is still housed in its original Hancock’s brown leather fitted case stamped with the Queen [Victoria] and the Prince and Princess of Wales’ royal warrants,” the release said.

“We’re delighted to have this storied necklace back where it all started, bringing with it tales of royal romance, theatrical triumph and silver screen stardom,” Burton said. “Its homecoming marks a poignant chapter in a narrative that spans centuries, continents and the evolving tapestry of fashion and society.”

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