It feels like People Magazine kind of phoned it in with their cover story this week – it’s all about “The Women of Windsor,” from Queen Elizabeth II to the duchesses (Cornwall, Cambridge and Sussex) and how they have all the power in the House of Windsor. But there’s nothing really “there” to this story – it’s just about how Meghan and Kate are just two more attention-grabbing women in British royalty. Which is kind of an obvious statement, right?
With Meghan Markle’s phone streaming vintage soul and rock tunes on Spotify and her faithful rescue beagle, Guy, at her feet, it could have been any other sunny morning for the Los Angeles-raised actress as she sat having her hair and makeup done. Only on this day, stylist Serge Normant was fashioning her ‘do around a glittering tiara on loan from Queen Elizabeth as she prepared to meet her groom, Prince Harry, at Windsor Castle.
“It was just like hanging out with your friend on her wedding day,” her make-up artist Daniel Martin, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “The last thing we said to each other was, ‘See you on the other side.’” The “other side” is proving to be a bold, fresh one, not just for Meghan, 37, but also for the royal family itself. Meghan and Harry’s May 19 wedding ushered in a new era for the Windsors — whose journey, helmed for the past 66 years (and counting!) by the 92-year-old Queen, is being written by women.
“Ever since Queen Victoria’s reign, women have dominated and ruled the House of Windsor,” says royal biographer Andrew Morton.
And that’s it? Meh. Apparently, this People cover was in coordination with an ABC special which will be airing on August 22 & 23 called The Royals. Andrew Morton and other royal historians/biographers will be taking part, and People Magazine is producing it, I guess.
So in lieu of actual information, here’s another little tidbit from Meghan’s wedding day:
When Prince Harry lifted lifted Meghan Markle’s wedding veil, you could practically hear a collective gasp from women the world over: You can see her freckles! It was a pivotal moment for brides everywhere. “The last thing you want [is] to look at your wedding pictures and go, ‘Remember when highlighting was the rage?’” says Markle’s makeup artist Daniel Martin. “At the end of the day, you want to look like your best self.”
While he’s had many defining points in his career and become the go-to for loyal clients like Elisabeth Moss and Olivia Palermo, creating an instantly iconic au naturel look for his friend Meghan Markle — aka Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex — might have taken the proverbial (wedding) cake. “I know exactly what she does and doesn’t like,” says Martin. “After the ceremony Harry kept saying thank you. He was thanking me for making her look like herself.”
I love that Harry had such strong feelings about Meghan’s makeup and how happy he was that she looked like herself on their wedding day. It reminds me a bit of Kate Middleton wanting to do her own makeup for her wedding day, and wanting to wear her hair down because she wanted to look like herself at her wedding. Except now whenever I look back at Kate and William’s wedding, all I can see is how much makeup she was wearing, especially her eye makeup! I prefer Meghan’s lighter-touch wedding-day makeup.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Meghan looked GORGEOUS on her wedding day. Her makeup was amazing. Very natural and I don’t think it will look dated.
I thought Kate looked beautiful but as I look back her makeup was VERY heavy, especially around her eyes. I think having her makeup done professionally could have been beneficial to her. You can have a makeup artist do it and still look like yourself. But its likely Meghan felt more comfortable with that since she had been an actress for so long (and so used to makeup chairs, etc.) Kate’s hair was beautiful though.
As for the rest of the story – I mean, we’ve had Victoria and Elizabeth. Of course women dominate the house of Windsor.
Re: Kate and her wedding day make up, apparently a professional Bobby Brown makeup artist was hired to do it on the day and after it had been done Kate wiped it off and did it herself – I can understand wanting to look like yourself your wedding day but if you’ve had trial runs surely you and your makeup artist would have come to an agreement on what you wanted. Her panda eye makeup wasn’t good but girlfriend does love her eye liner.
The BB makeup artist(s) also did Carole and Pippa’s makeup for the day and they looked good.
she should have prob stuck with the professional look lol. and yes it was the eyeliner! It was so dark and heavy and made her eyes look smaller. and it almost aged her in a way. Like you said I can understand wanting to look like yourself, but a professional MUA can do that.
Carole and Pippa both looked great and pretty close to themselves, I thought.
Pippa’s makeup on her own wedding looked really on point, much better than Kate IMO.
People changes: the make-up used to wear 10 years ago it’s not the same I wear now.
If Kate was more herself with heavy makeup that was her taste at the time. If she was fine I don’t see the problem.
However, Kate and William dress their kids like they are from the 1950s for the timeless appeal. So clearly Kate learned from her heavy makeup wedding fail.
And she still wears pretty heavy eye makeup today. She’s stopped lining the lower lid so much which helps a great deal I think.
I’ve seen Kate in person and saw why she wears her makeup very heavy – to hide bad skin. Her skin looked dry and leatherly. Years of smoking, dieting and tanning have taken a toll.
@Digital Unicorn — Seriously, I LIVE for these kinds of details! 😀
Not a problem at all – and it’s great if she liked it. But stark, black liner (on the lower lash line) hasn’t really been on trend since the 80s. It would have looked much better if she had smudged it a bit to soften the look.
If we want to talk about wedding mistakes I think we should all remember Diana wedding dress. That thing was a monster!
Love the Unicorn comment LOL
The thing about Diana’s wedding dress was that it happened in 1981, which was before the 80s really became the 80s, if you know what I mean. You can honestly blame the Emanuels for a lot of the excesses that happened in terms of wedding dresses (and really for some of fashion generally) in that decade.
Of course Kate has terrible skin from smoking, tanning and dieting and Meghan has the bestest skin in the universe and glorious natural locks! Meghan is the prettiest princess to ever draw breath!
@Sara
You are only one making that comparison. There was no need to bring up Meghan.
I’ve always wondered if Kate had such a heavy hand with the eyeliner as a way to evoke Diana in her last years? Which would be rather sweet, actually.
“Ever since Victoria’s reign, women have dominated and ruled the House of Windsor” – um who fact checked this? The House of Windsor didn’t exist until over a decade after Victoria died. Before then it was the House of really long German names.
On the plus side, I suppose the one of the only advantages monarchy has over democracy is that you are more likely to get women in power (currently and historically) even if only through accident of birth.
Oh that’s a good point. I just googled and apparently she was considered part of the House of Hanover? I thought it was Saxe- Coburg.
I believe she was born Hanover but when she married Albert the Royal House became Saxe-Coberg and Gotha. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, I always get confused about whether Gotha is in there or not.
Victoria was the last monarch from the House of Hanover. Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and their son Edward VII was the first monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Elizabeth II would have been the last Saxe-Coburg and Gotha monarch and the name would have changed when her son Charles ascended but Elizabeth II’s grandfather (George V) changed the House name to Windsor and then when Elizabeth ascended the decision was made to keep things as Windsor.
Theoretically Charles can change the name to something like Mounbatten or Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, but it is highly doubtful that he will do it or that Parliament will allow it.
Yes Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Currently the House of Hanover sits in the Monaco royal house.
If anyone was a force of nature in the House of Windsor it was Queen Mary. Even more so than Elizabeth. Most of the jewels they have is thanks to her. People didn’t even get basic info from Wikipedia for this story.
I agree, and while I am not a “fan”, I will add on Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Queen Mary was one tough lady. Her husband on the other hand, spent most of his time sticking stamps in his album and slaughtering birds. Ugh!
I just learned about her love of diamonds. And how she would expect people to gift her things when she stayed at their house.
Apparently, hosts of Queen Mary would hide their valuables before she showed up. If she saw something she liked, she expected you to give it to her and she would take it home right then and there.
She was born and raised to do the job, hand picked out of Kensington Palace by Victoria herself to be a Queen consort.
Meghan’s makeup was sensational. So fresh and natural, one of the best that I’ve ever seen.
ITA – I loved her wedding day makeup, it was fresh and very natural looking.
True! She looked beautiful and natural.
Daniel Martin did a great job.
Just yesterday I was watching the whole wedding again, haha. Royal weddings are usually so boring but for some reasons I love watching The Sussexes’ wedding over and over again. They got me hooked. Lol
Its that moment when Harry looks at her and says, “you look amazing.” I always cry. LOL.
Don’t forget THE LIP BITE…that…that alone was worthy of its own telecast.
Perhaps volunteering at a food bank,or something like that would be a much healthier use of your life than hero worshipping useless scroungers?
And, look at you, @sara. Reading everyone’s comments and every thread about Meghan, and trying to snark on other commenters like you’re disinterested. Hope you’re out volunteering today or at least attending a good-cause rally to back up your bluster and the criticism you like to throw at others who just want a break from the mundane or constant bad news.
I agree!!! I would so love to try and copy it but I’m a pale blonde with blue eyes and I don’t think it would look as good on me as it does on Meghan.
I’m also a pale blonde with blue eyes and almost colorless brows and lashes, but even medium makeup looks clownish or garish on me. 🙁
Meghan’s makeup looked very pretty but I will never like that dress. Kate’s make up was very heavy for the day but it looked better when she changed for the evening. I didn’t like her dress either.
The People magazine article is lame and tired. It is like they couldn’t come up with a cover story so fell back on the trusty royals to get them through this cycle.
The idea behind the wedding dress was lovely but boy, was the execution poor.
Plus I think such a simple dress needed “flashier” accessories, like CP Victoria of Sweden did, with a heavy tiara (which is ugly on its own but worked with her wedding look), an old watch, an elaborate veil and a long train.
Anyway, I’m surprised People did not go with a “Poor, poor Brad and evil bitch Angelina” cover ^^
Agreed, magnolia rose. The more I reflect on the dress and see pics of it, the less I like it (Meghan’s). It upset me because I really, really wanted to like it and I wanted it to be a watershed iconic fashion moment for many, many reasons. But unfortunately it was not. I did love kate’s, even if the makeup was a little too heavy handed.
Funny but the more pics I see of Meghan and the dress plus the whole look, the more I love it!! I especially love how the train stayed perfectly while she was walking up and then down the aisle. I love reading all the different opinions (as long as they are respectful).
Really. Typical boilerplate People stuff, nothing new.
None of the male monarchs have been too bright. At all.
You are so right.
Aww, I have a soft spot for Bertie. I think he knew his limitations, so to speak. And he really was instrumental in terms of keeping morale up during the war.
I remember noticing Kate’s heavy makeup watching the ceremony and at times it looked clownish with very obvious eyemakeup and rouge. It looked very harsh and overdone. Meghan, in contrast, seemed to eschew all embellishment from her hair, makeup to her dress and the result is a very classy and timeless look similar to Princess Anne’s first wedding look. Kate’s dress was also classy and has stood the test of time so far – it was a very ptretty dress that fit her beautifully.
I remember watching the wedding and thinking “poor thing didn’t take into account her natural heightened cheek color (from nerves) when applying her blush”. I have noticed that the Middleton women really favor the harsh black eyeliner, which I don’t really think looks good on anyone.
Meghan’s make up was so natural you could barely tell she was wearing it. Some light eye make up (maybe her brows) and some lipstick. I can’t tell what else she might have used, that’s how minimal it looks.
And well we know Kate likes heavy eye makeup and will probably wear it her whole life. It’s going to be interesting watching her age and clinging to her old makeup habits unless she decides to change them for some reason.
As for Queen Elizabeth’s make up go-tos–what does she like?? I’ve never really paid attention. I know her fashion habits but not sure of make up habits *off to google.*
Lilibet favors trampy red lipstick.
Lilibet and trampy red together in one sentence made me giggle…..the Queen in her sensible shoes and handbag, head scarf, hosiery, and barely there Ballet Slippers pink for her nails….with trampy red lipstick coordinated with a matching g-string, surely. I can hear the help yelling “WE NEED THE TRAMP RED LIPSTICK….HURRY…PUT IT IN HER HANDBAG BEFORE SHE LEAVES OR HEADS WILL ROLL!!!! NOT HEAVENLY HUSSY YOU GIT, TRAMP RED I SAID….TRAMP…..RED!!!
Mumzy, you made me laugh out loud!
Kate’s makeup has looked the same since she has been in university in the 2000s and even then her heavy eyeliner was not the style. She applies makeup like Carole who was a young adult in the 80s and that style has been transmitted to her daughters. So both Kate and Pippa look a good ten years older than they are because they don’t wear makeup like other women of their age would wear it. Sometimes she doesn’t line her lower lid all the way and it looks better, but she really needs a makeup artist to help her adapt her look to her current age. It would remove years from her face. Meghan is the same age but looks younger because her makeup isn’t obvious. It’s not like Kate doesn’t have the time or money to work on this.
Pippa’s wedding look was on-point from head to toe.
Kate’s dress was well-made but meh. The back of the dress was the best part but we did not get a lot of views of the back. I guess Pippa’s rear view trumped Kate’s.
I did not care for Kate’s hair, tiara or veil and think she looked older than her years. The heavy rouging is noticeable in the carriage ride, but overall Kate’s makeup did not stick out to me.
I like Kate’s wedding earrings, both the earrings themselves and the story behind them.
Meghan’s wedding dress was meh in design, and worse was not well executed. The best views were long shots of Megan on the steps of St. George’s chapel where the veil was the centerpiece.
The Stella McCartney dress that Meghan wore for the evening event was uh-mazing!
I would co sign all of this. Pippa, of the three, had the best hair, dress and makeup.
All I can think about from that cover is how similar Meghan and Kate look. That’s bizarre.
That’s what I thought too! When it comes to wives, William and Harry have the same physical “type.”
It’s amazing how Kate and Meghan resemble each other.
When Kate and William started dating people commented on Kate’s resemblance to his childhood nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
I have not seen too many comments regarding Kate and Meghan resembling each other but there have been comments about Meghan resembling Kate’s sister Pippa.
Huh. They have *completely* different faces. Um are we seeing the same pictures…
Someone upthread said Kate has bad skin. Not true! I’ve seen her up close and she’s much prettier in person with quite lovely skin. Her figure is fantastic and she’s fairly tall.
“Bad skin” is very subjective. It’s not possible that she has my idea of bad skin, based on every photograph and video of her I’ve seen. If you go by the stereotypical “English Rose” (absolutely porcelain) ideal as good skin, I don’t suppose she would qualify, but to me that kind of complexion is a rare gift (that’s to say I think it’s lovely but not a standard for “good skin”).
And so what if she smokes or drinks or misses sunscreen now and then…it’s her life and her skin…she can do what she wants…even get a forehead tattoo if she chooses…lol.
She looks like a young woman who has lived an active lifestyle. Although I don’t share her fashion taste usually, she’s very lovely and I admire her willingness to put herself out there knowing she’s going to be demolished by criticism no matter what. If everyone tried to focus on the positive I wonder how different Kate might be and how much more she might be “out there.” In her shoes, with all I’ve read and heard said about her, I would never want to leave my house.
I think Diana may have had “English Rose” skin (when she was 19, for instance), but by the time she had hit Kate’s current age I think she had lost it.
Bad skin is subjective? To me it’s either bad or good. She has good skin.
Subjective … definitely. “To me” is exactly why. To someone who has chronic horrific acne, someone with a monthly pimple might have good skin. To someone who has a perfectly untroubled complexion, someone with a once monthly pimple might have bad skin.
Yeah I loved the fact that they both looked like themselves on their wedding day which I can’t say about the majority of my friends. To be honest, Camila’s love story is also interesting. I feel like young male royals are like boy toys – soooo cute when they were like late teens/early twenties, they preserved some of the charm but they’re almost like the empty vessels. Women on the other hand seem to have layers, secrets, brain, snark.