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

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) The Lillie Langtry necklace, and (R) Meryl Streep wearing the necklace as Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.Photo:Hancocks London;Everett

Hancocks London;Everett

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

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

Hancocks London

“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.)

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

Lillie Langtry in costume for her role as Cleopatra in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.W. & D. Downey/Hulton Archive/Getty

W. & D. Downey/Hulton Archive/Getty

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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.”

source: people.com