Her performances may not always have been viewed as awards-calibre, while her Netflix presenting style can occasionally seem more rehearsed than natural.
Yet if the Duchess of Sussex has consistently demonstrated one particular skill, it is the ability to build relationships with people who can influence her image, create opportunities and support her ambitions.
Meghan’s remarkable journey from American television actress to royal bride unfolded just two years after she met Prince Harry, having been introduced to him on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend.
After six years based in the United States, the Sussexes are now spending more time in Britain. One thing remains evident: Meghan has assembled a powerful network of friends and professional collaborators as she charts the next chapter of her public life.
From lunches with celebrated hairstylist George Northwood to her longstanding relationship with Soho House executive Markus Anderson, who has been connected to the early stages of her romance with Harry, the people closest to Meghan continue to attract considerable interest.
Here is a closer look at Meghan’s inner circle and the influential relationships that have helped shape her style, public profile and professional goals.
Markus Anderson
Soho House executive Markus Anderson became friends with Meghan during her time on the US legal drama Suits, years before she met Prince Harry
The Canadian-born hospitality executive, who is closely associated with the exclusive Soho House members’ club, has been part of Meghan’s life since her pre-royal years in Toronto.
The two are thought to have met around 2011 or 2012, while Meghan was appearing as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits.
At the time, Meghan was building her own career and social circle as an actress, well before Prince Harry became part of her story.
When their relationship emerged publicly in 2016, Anderson was widely credited with helping facilitate some of the couple’s early encounters. Harry and Meghan are believed to have shared one of their first dates at Soho House’s Dean Street Townhouse in London, although the exact nature of Anderson’s role in their introduction has never been confirmed.
Almost a decade on, he continues to appear in Meghan’s orbit. The pair have been photographed together at Paris Fashion Week and at other public events.
Anderson’s continued presence is notable in an industry where personal and professional relationships can quickly fade. His links to hospitality, fashion and celebrity also make him a significant ally for Meghan as she balances her connections to royalty, entertainment and business.
Clare Waight Keller
Clare Waight Keller, pictured receiving the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award from Meghan in 2018, created the duchess’s wedding dress
Clare Waight Keller played a defining role in Meghan’s arrival on the royal stage. As Givenchy’s creative director, the British designer created the duchess’s wedding gown for her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry.
Their association continued after the ceremony. Later that year, Meghan presented Waight Keller with the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award at the Fashion Awards, publicly honouring the woman behind one of the most closely examined wedding dresses in modern history.
Waight Keller also created several outfits for Meghan’s royal duties, including looks worn for Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Sunday.
Their connection appears to have developed into a friendship that extended well beyond their original work together. In a recent New York Times profile, Waight Keller, now the creative director of Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo, described their bond as a “beautiful friendship”. The pair have also reportedly met for lunch in Beverly Hills while Meghan was based in California.
For someone whose clothing choices are routinely analysed, having a renowned designer as a trusted contact is a considerable advantage. Waight Keller’s continued relationship with Meghan also highlights the duchess’s ability to preserve influential connections after a specific professional project has ended.
George Northwood
Meghan was pictured in west London having lunch with George Northwood (right), one of Britain’s leading celebrity hairstylists
Northwood joined Meghan on her high-profile 2018 tour of Australia, where her hair was consistently immaculate
Meghan’s recent lunch with George Northwood, one of Britain’s most recognisable celebrity hairstylists, highlighted the enduring behind-the-scenes relationships that have supported her public image.
Known for his relaxed, effortless approach to hair, Northwood created the elegant updo Meghan wore for the evening reception after her wedding to Prince Harry. His signature style suited her preference for modern glamour with a less formal finish.
He also travelled with Meghan during the Sussexes’ 2018 tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, a major international assignment that came as she was adapting to life as a working royal.
Northwood helped establish a recognisable look for Meghan, featuring loose curls and softly styled buns that contrasted with the more structured hairstyles traditionally associated with royal appearances.
Their recent meeting at The Park restaurant in Queensway suggests their friendship remains strong, despite the fact that Northwood is no longer regularly preparing her for royal engagements.
For Meghan, a hairstylist who understands her personal aesthetic offers more than simply expert styling. With every public appearance capable of generating its own fashion coverage, a trusted beauty professional can play an important role in building a consistent and recognisable brand.
Kadi Lee
Meghan has a close friendship with colourist Kadi Lee and invested in her company, Highbrow Hippy. The pair are pictured at the brand’s 2024 launch party
Meghan’s talent for forming close ties with people who combine beauty expertise and business sense is also evident in her friendship with Kadi Lee, a sought-after colourist whose clients have included Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts.
The pair are believed to have met in 2020, after Meghan tried colouring her hair at home during the pandemic and was dissatisfied with the outcome. Lee was recommended as someone who could repair the colour and soon became a trusted part of Meghan’s beauty routine.
Their relationship later moved beyond the salon. Meghan became a lead investor in Highbrow Hippie, the haircare and wellness company Lee co-founded with Myka Harris.
The arrangement gives their friendship a clear business dimension. Meghan is not merely endorsing a beauty expert she knows, but financially supporting a company led by someone she trusts personally.
Interest in Meghan’s friendships intensified after reports of difficulties involving her former close friend Jessica Mulroney. At the same time, the duchess has continued to publicly acknowledge the women who remain part of her life.
During an episode of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan said her two children refer to Lee as “Aunt Kadi” — a warm detail that suggests the colourist has become part of the family’s broader circle.
The relationship reflects both personal loyalty and the entrepreneurial direction of Meghan’s developing commercial identity.
Daniel Martin
Daniel Martin has worked as Meghan’s make-up artist since her early acting days on the television series Suits
Their friendship has lasted over the years, with Daniel appearing in the second season of Meghan’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan
For Meghan, Daniel Martin is not simply a make-up artist but a trusted friend who has helped define her beauty image from her years on television to her position on the international stage.
Martin created Meghan’s fresh, luminous make-up for her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Instead of heavy contouring or dramatic eye make-up, he highlighted her freckles and used a natural finish that reinforced her association with the “no-make-up make-up” trend.
The look became one of the wedding’s most memorable beauty moments and helped inspire a generation of brides seeking a softer, more natural style.
Martin’s professional achievements extend well beyond his work with Meghan. As global director of artistry for Japanese skincare label Tatcha, he has collaborated with stars including Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh and Hayley Atwell.
Their friendship has also featured in Meghan’s lifestyle projects. Martin appeared in the second season of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, giving viewers a glimpse of the personal rapport behind her carefully crafted beauty image.
In a celebrity culture often shaped by short-term collaborations, Martin’s continued place in Meghan’s world points to a relationship that has survived well beyond one major public event.
As Meghan develops a public identity spanning royalty, beauty and lifestyle entrepreneurship, a make-up artist who understands her features and signature style remains an important part of her wider professional team.
