Twenty years after the filming of The Devil Wears Prada, the film is back in the spotlight due to one of the accessories worn by Meryl Streep, who portrayed Miranda Priestley. It is an iconic necklace that was gifted by the future King Edward VII to his lover, the English actress and socialite Lillie Langtry, who first wore it at the Broadway premiere of Antony and Cleopatra in 1890.
The jewel, commissioned by the monarch and crafted by the London jeweler Hancocks & Co., is of Egyptian inspiration with pendants made of drops of coral, turquoise cabochons, and carved moonstones, featuring a carved carnelian shell and winged scarabs. At that time, the fascination with Egyptian style was a trend inspired by Napoleon's expedition to African lands and the opening of the Suez Canal.
When Lillie made her debut in society at the home of the 7th Viscount of Ranelagh, she caused quite a sensation, sparking rumors praising the beauty and intelligence of the lady throughout London. Bertie, as the great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II was affectionately called, had been married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark since 1863. However, this seemingly happy marriage did not stop him from wanting to meet that mysterious young woman. Therefore, Bertie conspired with his friend Sir Allen Young to host a dinner at his house.
Although Lillie was also married since 1874 to the wealthy landowner Edward Langtry, she didn't mind being courted. The romance between Bertie and Lily lasted three years, from 1877 to 1880. They attended many events together, fueling a plethora of rumors that the couple cleverly dispelled. To indulge their passions, the future monarch had a mansion built where they could meet in secret whenever they wished. Undoubtedly, over time Lillie Langtry would become one of the most famous royal mistresses in history.
While involved with Bertie, Lillie also had other relationships with Prince Louis of Battenberg and an intimate friend, Arthur Clarence Jones. In 1881, her daughter Jeanne Marie was born. It was said that the baby was Arthur's due to the publication of ardent letters between them, but Louis Mountbatten -godfather and mentor of England's Prince Charles III who died in an IRA attack- always believed she was his sister.
After the end of her affair with Bertie, Lillie was the first high society figure to debut in London's West End theater in 1881. Oscar Wilde adored her, and the painter Sir John Everett Millais portrayed her so beautifully that the work is displayed at the Royal Academy under the nickname Lily of Jersey. Following her death in Monte Carlo in 1929, the trail of the necklace gifted by the Prince of Wales was lost. However, in 2003, a miracle occurred when a private individual brought the piece to auction at Bonhams, claiming that the former royal mistress had given it to their grandmother.
As fate would have it, the buyer of the necklace was none other than the jewelry store Hancocks, who later sold it to a New York antique dealer named Fred Leighton, who lent it to costume designer Patricia Field for a scene in The Devil Wears Prada. After several buying and selling transactions, the necklace returned to Hancocks for the fourth time. Due to its significant historical value, the piece is displayed in the jewelry boutique, and they have stated that it will not be put up for sale again.