She’s usually seen with her raven tresses tumbling around her shoulders, but today Meghan Markle channeled a sleeker look for her first public engagement of 2018 with Prince Harry.
For her visit to the studios of Reprezent 107.3 FM in Brixton, south London, a 24-hour underground music station presented by people under 25, the former Suits star wore her hair tied back in a neat bun with a few tendrils left loose around the front.
According to celebrity hairstylist Jay Birmingham, Meghan’s choice of hairdo today was a sign that she’s keen to eschew royal formality for a more relaxed look.
‘I love this effortlessly chic look – you can’t beat a good bun,’ he told Femail. ‘Meghan’s low loose bun is perfect for both day and night and gives a sense of “undone glamour”.
‘By having a few loose strands around the front of her hairline also gives a more natural finish. It’s also a failsafe look favoured by celebrities looking for a low-key and low maintenance hairstyle and works really well with her outfit of choice.’
Meghan’s relaxed look proved that she’s determined to forge her own style identity rather than becoming a clone of the Duchess of Cambridge, 36, who is known for being the picture of sleek perfection, with not a hair out of place, at all times.
The former Suits actress covered up in a £600 coat by Smythe, but also scored points today by championing British brands on the visit including high street stalwart M&S.
Harry’s fiancée chose a black wool blend round neck bell sleeve jumper, costing just £45 from Marks and Spencer for the visit, and added another high street piece – a grey scarf from Jigsaw.
For her visit to the studios of Reprezent 107.3 FM in Brixton, south London Meghan Markle wore her hair tied back in a neat bun with a few tendrils left loose around the front
The royal bride-to-be was looking a little windswept as she arrived for her first official engagement of 2018
The Duchess of Cambridge always ensures her locks are impeccably styled, whether worn up or down
There is even a family connection to the brand as Kate briefly worked for the retailer as a part-time accessories buyer before she married Prince William.
Meghan teamed her ensemble with a pair of wide legged trousers from Burberry, another stalwart of the British fashion industry.
However, she didn’t completely abandon her loyalty to Canadian brands, as she covered up in a grey wool coat by Toronto-based brand Smythe.
Her decision to wear trousers for her first royal engagement of 2018, showed that Meghan is determined to do things her own way.
Her future sister-in-law Kate is synonymous with figure hugging shift dresses, teamed with nude court shoes and the Duchess is only very occasionally seen in trousers.
Meghan wore a grey coat by Canadian brand Smythe, continuing to showcase her loyalty to brands from her former adoptive hometown of Toronto
Harry’s future wife championed British brands on today’s visit, wearing a £45 jumper from M&S and high waisted black trousers by Burberry
The former Suits star wore her dark hair swept back in a low bun, with tendrils falling loosely at the side
Meghan gave another nod to the British high street by teaming her coat with a grey scarf by Jigsaw
But Meghan’s smart casual look is more in keeping with the classic style she’s been channeling long before meeting Princes Harry.
The bride-to-be squealed and said she was ‘so excited’ about her forthcoming wedding to Prince Harry as they undertook their second public engagement today.
The visit to urban radio station Reprezent in Brixton, south London, saw the couple don headphones in the studio and and chat to dozens of young DJs – with Harry even carrying off a complicated ‘fist bump’ with one.
The prince also demonstrated that his wife to wear the trousers in their relationship during a discussion about gender equality.
It seems that Meghan’s hairdo did not quite turn out to be as sleek as she’d hoped for
Station manager Adrian Newman told him that they had a question for him to which Harry pointed at Meghan and swiftly replied: ‘She answers the questions!’
‘Yes talking of gender equality!’ Meghan quickly snapped back, with a smile on her face.
The couple enjoyed a tumultuous welcome to Pop Brixton , where the station, which has been running for 15 years, is based.
Meghan and Harry smiled broadly as people cheered and shouted – and in response to Harry’s gesticulating to the crowds and comment ‘this is so loud, you have to’, Meghan turned and blew a kiss, which had everyone screaming even louder.
According to Shane Carey, CEO and Founder, it was Harry and Meghan who approached him three days before Christmas asking if they could come and see the station for themselves.
‘They were very clear they didn’t want to be on the radio but one thing they were very, very strong on, which I quite liked actually, is that they wanted to talk to young people as much as possible,’ Mr Carey said.
‘The station will be running while they are there, we will have young people doing social media, editing etc, so they will be seeing it as it happens. It’s less about them and more about hearing the stories of those here.
‘The amount of planning that has gone into this in such a short space of time has been huge. But this is brilliant for us. We have been slogging at it for 15 years and to actually have the spotlight shone on us in this way is remarkable.
‘From Harry’s point of view it’s a fact finding thing and he genuinely wants to see it in action. You can see these things on paper but that doesn’t really convey what we do.