When the newly married Duchess of Sussex stepped out at her very first garden party at Buckingham Palace last month, royal watchers noted a marked change in the former actress.
Gone was her signature messy bun and in its place was a more polished up-do with no wispy strands out of place. And then there were the glossy nude tights which for so long Californian-born Meghan, 36, has resisted but finally succumbed to after being told Her Majesty prefers female royals to wear hosiery on engagements. Throw in the Goat frock – a favourite designer of the Duchess of Cambridge who Grazia understands has been quietly helping Meghan behind the scenes with her working wardrobe – and the result was more regal than ever.
But it’s not just Meghan’s wardrobe that is undergoing a makeover. As the newest member of the royal family, the hard work is just beginning for the Duchess of Sussex and she has a squad of advisors on hand to ensure she is well equipped for her new role. From a crash course in world affairs and British politics (courtesy of one of the Queen’s most trusted advisors), to knowing how to behave at a state dinner and who to curtsey to within her new family, Meghan is having to get to grips with the royal protocol and etiquette that will stand her in great stead for the rest of her new life.
Last week, it was reported that she will be assisted by one of the Queen’s most trusted members of staff, private secretary Samantha Cohen who has worked at Buckingham Palace for 17 years and is better equipped than most to make sure that Meghan is brought up to speed.
Australian-born Samantha, who is nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ because of her no-nonsense attitude, had been planning to leave the royal household but she was persuaded to stay by Prince Harry, who handpicked her to help his wife.
‘Meghan was keen to have a woman help show her the ropes, and Samantha fitted the bill. They got to know each other in the run-up to the wedding and got along very well. Samantha has been very helpful to Meghan,’ a source told Grazia. Samantha is due to start as interim private secretary later this summer when Harry’s private secretary Ed Lane Fox gives up the post.
Until now Meghan has been assisted by Clara Madden, a long-standing aide in charge of project management for all of the principals, and former senior press officer Amy Pickerill, who has been speed-tracked through the Palace ranks and has been earmarked as a possible future private secretary.
Meghan has also had the counsel of Sir David Manning, one of the Cambridges’ and Prince Harry’s most senior aides and speech writers, whose advice on matters relating to the Commonwealth (an area Meghan is learning more about) and how to interact with foreign leaders has been invaluable.
‘David has been amazing and so has Samantha, but the search is on for two new private secretaries, one for Harry and one for Meghan and the sooner the better,’ says a source who works closely with the newlyweds. ‘They want to get to work as quickly as possible and they will need private secretaries to help them with their charity work and their diaries.’
Meghan has also been working closely with Lorraine Heggessey at the Royal Foundation of which she is now a patron. Together they are identifying which areas of charity work Meghan wants to take on. As well as female empowerment and helping young and vulnerable women, Meghan also has an interest in mental health awareness and the prevention of gang crime.
‘These are areas she is looking into and wants to develop alongside getting involved with the Commonwealth. There will be some announcements in the near future about some of the patronages she’ll be taking on, the first of which will be a role within the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust which she will be very involved with,’ says a source.
As well as carving out her own charitable affiliations, Meghan has been getting help with her royal wardrobe from her new sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Kate’s secret weapon in the style department, Natasha Archer.
‘Kate has recommended a couple of designers to Meghan and has also made Natasha available to help with Meghan’s working wardrobe,’ reveals the source. Meghan, who has been using her friend Jessica Mulroney to help with her fashion, will likely appoint her own stylist in time. In the meantime, Natasha, who mostly shops online for Kate, knows the royal budget and how to dress for royal engagements better than most.
Adds a royal aide: ‘It’s very much a team effort at Kensington Palace with everyone helping Meghan out but she will eventually have her own private secretary, her own stylist and someone to oversee her diary.’
How did Prince Harry's wedding compare to Prince William's? Look back at both royal celebrations in the gallery below...
prince harry's wedding versus prince william's wedding - Grazia
1 of 30William and Kate
THE FIRST GLIMPSEKate headed to Westminster Abbey with her father, Michael Middleton, giving royal-watchers a glimpse at the long sleeves and lace detailing of her wedding gown.
2 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE FIRST GLIMPSEAccompanied by her mother Doria Ragland, Meghan was driven from Cliveden House hotel in Berkshire to Windsor Castle.
3 of 30William and Kate
THE KISSThe happy couple shared not one but two kisses after emerging onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace to wave at the thousands of wellwishers gathered outside. 'Let's give them another one,' William said.
4 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE KISSAfter exchanging rings and officially tying the knot, Harry and Meghan headed out onto the steps of St George's Chapel for a kiss.
5 of 30William and Kate
THE DRESSSarah Burton, creative director at Alexander McQueen, was tasked with designing Kate's wedding dress, which featured lace sleeves, a nipped-in waist and a long, full skirt, inspired by an opening flower. Her train was short by royal standards, measuring just under three metres.
6 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE DRESSMeghan's simple, classic gown seemed straight out of an Audrey Hepburn movie. It was designed by Claire Waight Keller, creative director of Givenchy, with a bateau neckline, three-quarter sleeves and a veil embroidered with flowers from each of the Commonwealth nations.
7 of 30William and Kate
THE VENUEThe newly announced Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony attended by 1,900 people.
8 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE VENUEAs their wedding was not a state event, Harry and Meghan opted for the more intimate venue of St George's Chapel in Windsor (with a guestlist of just 600). The floral arches inside and outside the chapel were a subtle tribute to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana: she is said to have loved white roses.
9 of 30William and Kate
THE MAID OF HONOURKate asked her younger sister Pippa to act as maid of honour, bucking a royal trend which traditionally sees a bridal party consisting of younger children (like Grace van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes, here pictured with Pippa).
10 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE MAID OF HONOURMeghan decided against having an official maid of honour (FYI, she had too many friends to choose from...) but her close friend and unofficial stylist Jessica Mulroney has been her right-hand woman in the lead up to the wedding. She arrived with her daughter Ivy, a bridesmaid, and the Duchess of Cambridge.
11 of 30William and Kate
THE TIARAKate's 'something borrowed' was the Cartier Halo Scroll tiara, loaned from her grandmother-in-law the Queen. Featuring no fewer than 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds, it was commissioned for the Queen Mother in 1936 by her husband, the future George VI, weeks before he was crowned King. It was passed on to the Queen as an 18th birthday present; though Kate has since become its most famous wearer, Her Majesty had previously lent it to Princess Margaret and to her eldest daughter, the Princess Royal.
12 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE TIARAThe perks of being the Queen's granddaughter-in-law? An extensive jewellery box to raid through. Meghan borrowed the Queen Mary bandeau tiara from Her Majesty for her wedding day, paired with earrings and a bracelet by Cartier.
13 of 30William and Kate
THE CARRIAGE RIDEThe newly-weds departed for Buckingham Palace in the open-topped state Landau carriage, the very same which William's parents Charles and Diana used on their wedding day in 1981.
14 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE CARRIAGE RIDEFollowing the ceremony, Harry and Meghan jumped (OK, slide gracefully) into an Ascot Landau carriage for a procession around Windsor. Watch out for Storm and Tyrone, the father-son horse duo pulling the coach.
15 of 30William and Kate
BEATRICE AND EUGENIEThe fascinators that launched a thousand memes: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's idiosyncratic headgear choices certainly captured the public's imagination...
16 of 30Harry and Meghan
BEATRICE AND EUGENIESigh. After the media storm surrounding their outfits at the last royal wedding, the York sisters played it a little safer this time around, with Beatrice wearing Roksanda and Eugenie wearing new label Gainsbourg.
17 of 30William and Kate
**ELTON JOHN...**We can't remember if memes existed in April 2011, but if they did, Sir Elton's enthusiastic participation in the hymn-singing would certainly have received the viral treatment.
18 of 30Harry and Meghan
**ELTON JOHN...**This time around, Elton (who is said to be performing at the wedding reception) opted for some typically snazzy shades - being a Gucci muse is hard work...
19 of 30William and Kate
THE BECKHAMSVictoria (at the time heavily pregnant with her fourth child, Harper) attended the wedding in a loose navy dress from her own line, worn with a 'UFO'-style fascinator that launched almost as many memes as Beatrice and Eugenie's.
20 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE BECKHAMSThis time around, Victoria opted for... a navy blue ensemble from her eponymous label! There's something to be said for a signature style, after all...
21 of 30William and Kate
THE QUEENAlways one for a colourful co-ord, Her Majesty wore a smart coat dress in lemon yellow for her grandson William's wedding, paired with her signature Launer handbag and sensible shoes.
22 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE QUEENThis time around, the Queen (here pictured with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh) switched things up ever so slightly, choosing a lime green ensemble by go-to royal couturier Stewart Parvin, the purple detailing echoed in her hat.
23 of 30William and Kate
**JOSS STONE...**Soul singer Joss Stone rocked up to Westminster Abbey in fuschia pink.
24 of 30Harry and Meghan
**JOSS STONE...**It seems that Harry's guestlist featured a bumper crop of early Noughties easy-listening artists: James Blunt also rocked up to the Windsor Castle ceremony...
25 of 30William and Harry
FERGIESarah Ferguson was famously snubbed from William and Kate's wedding, eventually heading off to a spai in Thailand to ease the disappointment.
26 of 30Harry and Meghan
FERGIEPrince Harry reported fought to make space for his aunt on the wedding guest list, though we still can't quite fathom why the former Duchess of York was only wearing one glove...
27 of 30William and Kate
THE SCENE-STEALING KIDSThree-year-old Grace van Cutsem stole the show during the balcony kiss, as she pulled some faces and put her hands over her ears during the very noisy RAF flyover.
28 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE SCENE-STEALING KIDSHow sweet were Jessica Mulroney's twin sons, Brian and John, as they carried Meghan's veil into the chapel? And does this mean that the Nineties boyband hairdo is primed for a comeback?
29 of 30William and Kate
THE OFFICIAL PHOTOSThe Duke and Duchess had their official wedding portraits shot by Hugo Bernand in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. Bernard's shoot included images of the couple together, with their close family and posing candidly with their bridesmaids and page boys.
30 of 30Harry and Meghan
THE OFFICIAL PHOTOSShot by Alexi Lubomirski (the man behind the couple's engagement photos) in the Green Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, Harry and Meghan's photos follow a slightly less formal set-up.