As A-List friendships go, the combination of Beyoncé and the Duchess of Sussex is about as major as they get. When Meghan walked up to the singer during the line-up at the London premiere of The Lion King in 2019, the pair hit it off immediately as Beyoncé greeted the duchess with the words ‘Hello, my princess.’
Now, this relationship has been galvanised. Beyoncé has commented on this week's controversial Meghan interview, applauding the Duchess for her 'courage and leadership.'
The brief exchange that brought them together almost two years ago was no accident; it marked the culmination of a long process to orchestrate a meeting. It’s no surprise that the two would want to meet. Meghan had been a fan of the singer for years – she used to post tributes on her now-deleted Instagram account – and has long thought of her as a dream dinner guest. But things moved up a notch in February of 2019, when Beyoncé recorded an acceptance speech for the BRIT Awards that featured a painting of Meghan wearing a crown.
Meghan Markle Pregnancy Style - Grazia
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Making a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards calls for a pretty spectacular outfit. Enter this timeless number, which has since set the bar high for one-shoulder gowns.
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Meghan visited Smart Works, which one of the four new patronages, wearing a simple maternity dress from Hatch. She paired this with a classic trench coat from Oscar de la Renta, and part-sheer printed heels by Gianvito Rossi. Understated yet elegant.
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Whilst attending a Royal Variety performance, Meghan dazzled in a sleek black skirt and monochrome top that featured a floral pattern. We love.
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During a visit to Brinsworth House (which is the Royal Variety Charity's residential nursing and care home), Meghan stepped out wearing a clean white floral dress by brand Brock Collection. To beat the chill, she threw on a long grey coat Soia and Kyo, before completing her look with a classic nude clutch and heels.
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When visiting Birkenhead with her beau Prince Harry, Meghan wore a bright purple dress under this striking red coat by fashion brand Sentaler. Her statement red shoes were from Stuart Weitzman, and we're pretty obsessed with them.
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Meghan wore a Roland Mouret sequin gown during a visit to watch a charity performance of Cirque du Soleil at Royal Albert Hall. Her sequined evening look was paired with black heels by Stuart Weitzman, and she donned a slicked back bun and bold lips.
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Drawing inspiration from her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, Meghan often to wear an affordable cream dress from H&M during a visit to Mayhew, one of her royal patronages. She covered the dress with a smart Armani coat and heels. Chic.
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Burgundy is definitely the Duchess' colour! This Club Monaco coat and her collared dress make for a match-made in heaven. And when paired with with black tights and chunky heeled boots, we have a winning winter outfit.
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For the final Armistice Day service at Westminster Abbey, Meghan wore an elegant navy skirt and boxed-style shoulder peplum top, complete with a headpiece and large poppy pin.
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Can we just take a moment for this custom Givenchy outfit? Created for her last royal engagement in New Zealand, Meghan married a classy navy sweater with a pleated maxi skirt which showcased different shades of blue.
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The Duchess has opted to wear navy on several occasions during her pregnancy, including the time she wore this Antonio Berardi dress with a pair of Aquazzura heels.
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Yes, Meghan Markle is often spotted wearing heels and princess-worthy gowns, but she's also capable of rocking a more laid-back style with ease. Take this Karen Walker blazer, J.Crew skinny jeans, and practical rain boots as proof.
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In New Zealand, Meghan wore this gorgeous plaid trench by Karen Walker. She layered it over a black dress which was sold on ASOS, proving that designer and high-street go hand-in-hand.
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For her speech at the Invictus Games closing ceremony, Meghan donned a tailored, olive green dress by the designer Antonio Berardi. She completed her look with a poppy pin.
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Meghan accompanied Harry to watch the wheelchair basketball finals at Invictus Games, and donned a casual yet chic outfit. The Duchess proved that a simple pair of skinny jeans and a wrap top are in still very much in style.
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Meghan wowed the crowd at Australian Geographic Society Awards in this flowing Oscar de la Renta gown, which she styled with slingback heels.
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Have you ever seen a Veronica Beard Cary Dress and blue suede shoes look so chic together?
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What does one wear to dinner with the King and Queen of Tonga? Only a white gown by Theia, pumps by Aquazzura and earrings by Birks, of course!
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Whilst attended the unveiling of a statue in honour of a British-Fijan soldier, Meghan chose to wear Jason Wu green mid-length dress with pointed heels and an arm cuff.
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The Duchess's eye-catching blue gown by Safiyaa, married with a pair of diamond drop earrings, is one of our favourite Meghan Markle outfits of all-time.
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White 3/4 sleeve dress + matching Stephen Jones fascinator _ straw clutch = Heaven in an outfit.
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We're obsessed with this black Emilia Wickstead dress which features dainty buttons all the way down the middle. And it looks even better when paired with this Philip Treacy fascinator, don't you think?
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A striped Martin Grant dress is the only plausible outfit to wear on the beach, right? We certainly think so.
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See, we told you that Meghan is a fan of the colour navy. Lots of her dress choices - like this two-toned number by Roksanda - feature varying shades of blue.
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Let's face it: we can't blame Meghan for her love affair with navy - she really does know how to pull the colour off, and it's complementary against her dark hair colour.
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When we first saw Meghan wearing this forest green Brandon Maxwell dress, we fell hard in love, and in all honestly, we haven't stopped thinking about it since.
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This classy white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee was the first item that Meghan was spotted in after the news of her pregnancy was confirmed.
It is no mean feat to forge a friendship with such a woman: socialising with the most successful and wealthy couple in the music industry involves jumping through plenty of hoops, even when you’re a member of the royal family. In royal circles, introductions to people of interest are often made formally, with aides reaching out to vet individuals before setting up meetings. But Meghan, a source tells Grazia, does things differently. ‘She took things into her own hands with Beyoncé,’ they explain. ‘Much like her friendships with Amal and George Clooney, or Jacinda Ardern [Prime Minister of New Zealand], the initial communications were made without the involvement or knowledge of the royal team. They get involved later, when the logistics need to be discussed.’ In that way, the insider points out Meghan is similar to the late Princess of Wales. ‘Diana would never have wasted time sending endless memos to people’s teams. She always preferred the personal touch, and Meghan’s very much on that same page.'
Nevertheless, Meghan is aware of how her friendships with the A-list can appear to the public, especially after the backlash following her ‘private’ appearance at Wimbledon, where she was alleged to have asked not to be photographed. The collaboration between the Royal Foundation and the Protect The Pride campaign (a conservation campaign set up by Disney to raise awareness of the crisis facing lions and other wildlife across Africa) was seen as a worthy collaboration that more than justified the meeting.
Now that two of the world’s most famous women have entered each other’s orbits, Meghan will be keen to sustain links. But being friends with Beyoncé takes more than a meeting at a premiere. Grazia understands that an invitation to her home is almost as difficult to get hold of as one to the Palace. All new acquaintances are first vetted by security, and Jay-Z often meets with them first to ensure that they won’t be too excitable in Beyoncé’s presence. Selfies and use of any social media is not allowed – a source says, ‘She hates to see phones out in her presence’ – and both she and Jay keep screen time to a minimum.
For Beyoncé, privacy and discretion is key. She does not like her friends to discuss her, her family or her work in the media. Last year, former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams was asked to spill a titbit about Beyoncé’s forthcoming new music, but remained silent, live on camera. Once you’re in the fold, though, you will be privy to incredible experiences. Entire restaurants, shops and even theme parks have been shut down so that Beyoncé can enjoy her privacy, and some of her famous friends – including Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow – have paid tribute to her generosity and kindness.
Now that Meghan is firmly on Beyoncé’s radar, though, and in the same state, she would be advised not to overdo it on the personal communication. ‘You don’t text Beyoncé,’ the insider says. ‘Her people will reach out to your people.’ Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship? The pair’s packed schedules, travel commitments and young children means we’re unlikely to spot them checking in for a spa day anytime soon. But one thing is undeniable: Meghan has gained a crucial ally in her journey towards global influence.