During a 16-day royal tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, changed her hairstyles 40 times over three weeks, according to her former stylist. The duchess joined the royal family through her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry but stepped back from duties in 2020 to start a new life in the United States.
Stylist’s Insights from the Tour
George Northwood, a London-based celebrity hairstylist who collaborated with the duchess during her royal period, described the experience as transformative. He stated, “Working with Meghan was a game-changer. I loved her from day one.” Northwood accompanied the couple on the tour and handled numerous hair transformations under tight schedules.
The duchess approached her appearances with meticulous attention, often suggesting ideas for her hair while allowing creative freedom. Northwood noted that Prince Harry paid close attention to the details, observing, “Meghan always had ideas, but then she’d let me run. And Harry was very, very good at noticing her hair.”
Royal tours demanded quick adaptations, far from the glamour of celebrity events. In one instance in Morocco, Northwood styled the duchess’s hair in airport restrooms with just 10 minutes to spare. He explained the pressure: “A celebrity can arrive whenever they’re ready. A royal has to be out that door at this time, no negotiation. You have three minutes to get that hair into a bun.”
Challenges and Perspectives from Insiders
Individuals familiar with the duchess’s tour preparations highlighted the intensity of her requests, which exceeded typical royal norms. They described her approach as stemming from a performer’s perspective, where each outfit and appearance needed uniqueness. This led to frequent hair variations that tested the team’s limits.
One insider remarked, “Meghan came in with a performer’s mindset. Every outfit, every appearance, had to feel distinct. That translated into constant hair changes that pushed the team hard.” Another clarified that it reflected an actress’s drive to avoid repetition amid constant scrutiny, rather than demanding behavior.
A former royal aide pointed to underlying tensions between the duchess’s preference for refining details and the institution’s emphasis on decisiveness. The aide said, “She was used to having teams iterate until it felt right. The institution works on finality. That tension showed up even in something as basic as hair.” These dynamics, aides suggest, influenced aspects of her brief time as a working royal.
