With a starring role in a hit drama, 2.3 million Instagram followers and a royal fiancé to boot, it’s clear that Meghan Markle wields serious style influence.
So it’s little wonder the actress and humanitarian uses her social media following to publicly promote her friends at every opportunity.
MailOnline can reveal how Meghan, who announced her engagement to Prince Harry this week, has been subtly plugging her nearest and dearest in a series of carefully curated Instagram posts and red carpet appearances over the past two years.
From the styling services of BFF Jessica Mulroney, to the designs of Misha Nonoo and Roland Mouret, the star has proudly showcased her friend’s business ventures in the worlds of food, fashion and even Pilates at every turn.
Meghan’s carefully curated engagement outfit this week. According to WWD, the coat was a freebie, gifted to her by BFF Jessica Mulroney. It has since been renamed ‘The Meghan’
The Suits star, who has quit acting to set up home with Harry at Kensington Palace, has not posted on social media since April, the same week she shut down her popular lifestyle blog The Tig.
The move was taken at the time as a sign that her relationship with Harry was growing more serious by the day as she prepared for life as a royal.
But before her social media shutdown, Meghan was an avid selfie snapper keen to support her friends online.
It is unlikely Meghan will be able to accept ‘freebies’ after officially she enters royal life; her future sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, is believed to pay for her own wardrobe through Prince Charles’ ‘Household’ budget, funded by his Duchy of Cornwall estate.
Here, we reveal how Meghan has masterfully showcased her friends’ business ventures in everything from her wardrobe to her fitness regime…
1. Misha Nonoo’s designs
Meghan with close pal Misha Nonoo (left), and in one of the designer’s shirts for her first public outing at the Invictus Games in Toronto earlier this year
Ms Markle knew all eyes would be on her for her first official public appearance with Prince Harry at the Toronto Invictus Games in September.
And she turned to one of her best friends to dress her for their joint appearance at the wheelchair tennis event, donning a Misha Nonoo shirt intriguingly named ‘The Husband’.
Markle and US designer Nonoo are close friends, having holidayed together in Madrid in 2016 when the actress was in the early days of her romance with Prince Harry.
Longtime fan: In October 2016, Meghan posted a picture of herself wearing the shirt by Misha Nonoo during a lunch date with BFF Jessica Mulroney
In fact, rumour has it Nonoo – whose husband went to Eton with Harry and William – could be the mystery matchmaker who first introduced the couple last summer.
Meghan’s appearance in the $185 (£139) will most likely have caused a sales frenzy for the brand and brought it to the attention of a British customer base for the first time.
But it’s not the first time she’s worn the button-down shirt; in October 2016 she posted a picture of herself wearing it during a lunch date with BFF Jessica Mulroney.
3. Roland Mouret’s red carpet creations
Meghan at a dinner with French designer Roland Mouret in Toronto (left); and wearing a sweeping fishtail gown from the label at a New York benefit ball in 2014
Well-connected Meghan has a close bond with the French designer and, as well as choosing his glamorous designs for red carpet appearances, Meghan has given him a string of social media shout-outs.
A fashion magazine editor told WWD this week that the pair ‘clearly had an affection for each other’ – and that certainly seems to be the case if Meghan’s gushing Instagram posts are anything to go by.
Meghan has been vocal about her support for the French designer on Twitter and Instagram
A gushing Instagram post from October 2016, just weeks before her romance with Prince Harry was revealed, sees the star in a cosy selfie with the French designer
After a dinner in honour of the fashion tycoon, she wrote: ‘So much love for you @roland_mouret – love your dresses to the moon and back, but love you even more #fashion #favouritedesigner.’
And in a cosy selfie with the designer last year, she wrote: ‘Because lunch with @roland_mouret is the very best kind of lunch.’
3. Jessica Mulroney’s styling services
The entire world was watching on Monday as Meghan and Harry took part in a photo call at Kensington Palace.
And the royal-in-waiting pulled out all the stops with a stunning Line coat, Aquazzura heels and P.A.R.O.S.H dress.
Meghan with close pal, stylish Jessica Mulroney at a dinner in May 2016; and wearing a coat handpicked by the stylist for her engagement photo call with Prince Harry this week (right)
The cream belted number is $750 (£564) and has already been renamed The Meghan. But according to WWD, the coat was a freebie, gifted to her by BFF Jessica Mulroney.
Meghan and the high-flying stylist, who works with the likes of Sophie Trudeau, enjoyed a lavish ‘girls’ trip’ to Positano, Italy, last summer and Mulroney is understood to be part of the actress’ inner circle.
4. Markus Anderson’s private members’ club
Meghan on a European jaunt with Soho House consultant Markus Anderson and Misha Nonoo. Anderson has been dubbed the royal-in-waiting’s ‘unofficial chaperone’
During one of her jaunts to London to see Prince Harry last summer, Meghan dropped by at Soho House – and was sure to publicly thank Anderson for her ‘yummy breakfast’
Known as Meghan’s ‘unofficial chaperone’, the Toronto-based consultant for private members clubs Soho House was initially believed to have set her up with her royal fiancé.
While they have since refuted this, Anderson – dubbed the ‘King of Soho House’ – is often seen at Meghan’s side – whether on a sun-kissed jaunt to Europe, at the Invictus Games, at her former Toronto home, or at glitzy showbiz events.
And last summer, in the early days of her royal romance, she made sure she posted about her ‘yummy breakfast’ at the London branch of the exclusive members’ club.
5. Heather Dorak’s Pilates empire
Meghan (pictured here with Pilates tycoon Heather Dorak, second right, and friends) captioned this picture: ‘Tree trimming bliss with my favourites’
‘Pilates Queen’ Heather Dorak is something of a regular on Meghan’s Instagram feed – from holidays in Spain to cosy Christmas tree trimming sessions.
And as well as sharing snaps of the pair on social media, Meghan happily shared a gushing testimonial on the website of Dorak’s company, Pilates Platinum, saying: ‘Heather is amazing — as an instructor, as a friend, she is inspiring in every way.’
She adds: ‘The environment in her studio makes you feel pumped up when you walk in — and you leave feeling (and looking) even better….trust me, the results are incredible.
‘My only fear in writing this testimonial is that the secret will get out — it’s the best workout in town. Shhh!’