In a world where celebrity friendships can vanish faster than a pop star’s latest single, Meghan Markle’s circle seems to defy the odds – like a Capricorn sticking to their goals! While whispers of dwindling Hollywood ties swirl around the Duchess of Sussex, a peek behind the curtain reveals a tight-knit crew still camped out in her corner. From a Soho House mastermind who’s been there since her “Suits” days to a beauty mogul who now feels like family, it seems that Meghan’s past is as vibrant as her present. Could the stars align in her favor, showing us that real connections withstand the Hollywood hustle? Let’s delve into these enduring relationships that continue to shape her identity as a royal, entrepreneur, and cultural icon!
Meghan Markle may have faced questions about her shrinking circle of Hollywood friends, but the Duchess of Sussex still has some influential names firmly in her corner. While reports of strained celebrity friendships have followed Meghan and Prince Harry since their move to California, a closer look at the Duchess’ inner circle reveals a network of longtime allies who have helped shape everything from her royal image to her growing business interests.
From the Soho House executive linked to the early days of her romance with Harry to the beauty entrepreneur who became part of her family, Meghan has maintained relationships that extend well beyond red carpets and royal engagements.
![Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Meghan's Mother Doria Radlan attend The Invictus Games 2017 Closing Ceremony at the Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the 30th September 2017. 30 Sep 2017 Pictured: Meghan Markle, Markus Anderson, Jessica Mulroney. Photo credit: James Whatling / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA93207_007.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://media.theblast.com/t/xTkfvJw6q1q9/width=788%2Cheight=572%2Cfit=crop%2Cquality=65%2Cgravity=auto%2Cmetadata=none%2Cformat=auto%2Conerror=redirect/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/MEGA93207_007-788x572.jpg)
One of Meghan’s longest-standing friendships is with Markus Anderson, the Canadian-born hospitality executive associated with the exclusive Soho House members’ club. According to the Daily Mail, the pair are believed to have met around 2011 or 2012, when Meghan was still starring in the legal drama “Suits.”
Anderson was already part of her social circle years before she met Harry, and he has remained a familiar presence throughout her transition from actress to royal and businesswoman. He was also widely linked to the early days of Meghan and Harry’s relationship, with reports suggesting he helped facilitate their initial meetings. However, the extent of his involvement in their introduction has never been definitively established.
Their friendship has continued long after Meghan stepped away from royal duties, with Anderson joining her at public events, including Paris Fashion Week in 2025. His connections in hospitality, fashion, and entertainment make him one of the more influential figures in Meghan’s circle, particularly as she continues developing a public identity outside the royal family.
Another important figure in Meghan’s inner circle is Clare Waight Keller, the British designer responsible for her Givenchy wedding gown in 2018. The dress became one of the most talked-about royal fashion moments of the decade, but the relationship between the two women did not end after Meghan walked down the aisle. Later that year, Meghan presented Waight Keller with the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award at the Fashion Awards, publicly recognizing the woman behind her bridal look.
The designer also created outfits for several royal engagements, including Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Sunday. More recently, Waight Keller, who serves as creative director at Uniqlo, described her connection with Meghan as a “beautiful friendship” in a New York Times profile.
The two have reportedly remained in touch and even met for lunch in Beverly Hills while Meghan was living in California. Their enduring bond offers a different picture from the reports of friendships that have reportedly cooled over the years. In Waight Keller, Meghan appears to have retained both a trusted friend and a fashion industry connection.
Meghan’s recent lunch with celebrity hairstylist George Northwood also highlighted another relationship that has survived her departure from royal life. Northwood was responsible for the Duchess’ elegant updo at her 2018 wedding reception and helped establish the relaxed hairstyles that became closely associated with her royal image. He also accompanied Meghan during the Sussexes’ 2018 tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga, when her appearances were attracting intense international attention. The hairstylist’s approach, favoring loose curls and effortless-looking buns, helped distinguish Meghan’s personal style from more traditional royal beauty choices.
Years later, the pair were reportedly spotted having lunch at The Park restaurant in London’s Queensway. Their reunion suggests that Meghan has continued maintaining relationships with the professionals who helped establish her public image during her time as a working royal. For a duchess whose fashion and beauty choices still generate headlines, having someone who understands her signature look remains a valuable connection.
Not all of Meghan’s influential friendships revolve around her royal wardrobe. Her relationship with celebrity hair colorist Kadi Lee has developed into a business partnership, bringing together personal trust and Meghan’s entrepreneurial ambitions. According to the Daily Mail, the pair met in 2020 after Meghan attempted to color her hair at home during the pandemic and was unhappy with the results.
Lee, whose celebrity clients have included Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts, reportedly helped correct the color and eventually became one of Meghan’s trusted beauty professionals. Their connection later expanded when Meghan became a lead investor in Highbrow Hippie, the haircare and wellness company Lee co-founded with Myka Harris. However, their friendship appears to extend beyond professional interests.
During an episode of her podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder,” Meghan revealed that her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, affectionately call Lee “Aunt Kadi.” The detail offers a glimpse into how closely Lee has become connected to the Sussex family. Unlike some of Meghan’s other friendships, this relationship has also evolved into a commercial venture, showing how her personal and professional worlds can overlap.
Daniel Martin is another familiar face who has remained close to Meghan through several major chapters of her life. The celebrity makeup artist worked with Meghan before she became a royal and famously created her natural wedding-day makeup in 2018. Rather than opting for dramatic contouring or heavy coverage, Martin emphasized her freckles and gave her a fresh, understated look that became one of the defining beauty details of the royal wedding.
His career has included work with stars such as Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, and Hayley Atwell, alongside his role as global director of artistry for Japanese skincare brand Tatcha. Yet his connection with Meghan has remained both personal and professional. Martin appeared in the second season of her Netflix lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan,” bringing one of her longtime friends into a project tied to her post-royal career. His continued presence, alongside Anderson, Waight Keller, Northwood, and Lee, shows that Meghan still has an established circle of influential allies despite the speculation surrounding her Hollywood friendships.
While some celebrity relationships may have changed over the years, these five connections have endured through Meghan’s transition from actress to royal and, more recently, entrepreneur.
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