The Duchess of Sussex reunited with her long-term make-up artist after an apparent two year hiatus at the Espy Awards on Thursday.
Often described as best friend to Meghan, 42, as well as ‘guncle’ to Archie and Lilibet, Daniel Martin was by Meghan Markle’s side throughout her royal career.
The celebrity make-up artist cemented himself in the history books when he did Meghan’s make-up for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 – and worked alongside her at various events in her two years as a working royal.
It then seemed Daniel, 51, might have moved away from Meghan, after she did her own hair and make-up during her quasi-royal tour to Nigeria in May.
However, in a turn of events, Daniel revealed on Instagram that he has once again teamed up with the mother-of-two to create her ‘glow’ at last week’s ESPYS Awards in California, describing Meghan and Prince Harry, 39, as his ‘besties’.
Taking to Instagram, Daniel shared two photographs of Meghan at the star-studded event, which honours athletic achievement and other sports-related performance.
‘EPSYS with my besties,’ he wrote underneath a picture of Harry and Meghan. He continued: ‘Congratulations buddy on you Pat Tillman Award for Service. Makeup by yours truly and hair [by] @hectorsworldd’.
He later posted a close up shot of Meghan’s make-up look for the occasion, captioned: ‘There she glows’.
The reunion may come as a surprise to royal fans after the pair appeared to not work together for two years, despite Daniel claiming to be ‘in touch with her all the time’.
His recent Instagram posts show collaborations with Rachel McAdams, as well as girl of the moment Nicola Coughlan, Olivia Munn, Ali Wong, Maya Rudolph.
The pair are believe to have last worked together in May 2022, when Meghan and Harry visited the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
But despite a tour of Nigeria, launching a lifestyle brand, and various red carpet and TV appearances, in those last two years, Daniel and Meghan haven’t publicly worked together.
Speaking to US Weekly in June, Daniel said that the royal mother-of-two has ‘more room to play’.
‘She’s in Nigeria right now. It’s just her. There’s no stylist, there’s no hairdresser. She’s doing everything herself and she’s so good at it.’
‘I mean, she loves some blush. She loves the cheek. She loves a big brow.’
Lately, Daniel has formed a friendship with Brigerton star Nicole Coughlan – who he describes as a ‘sister’.
He recently did her make-up for the Brigerton premiere, the Big Mood premiere and her Town & Country cover.
His recent Instagram posts show collaborations with Rachel McAdams, as well as girl of the moment Nicola Coughlan, Olivia Munn, Ali Wong, Maya Rudolph.
Daniel also worked with Olivia Munn for her Vogue shoot, while he also worked with Maya Rudolph at the Time 100 Gala as well as Dakota Johnson, Michelle Yeoh and Cindy Crawford.
Daniel is believed to have known Meghan for over a decade, having met her while the former actress worked on Suits.
As Meghan didn’t have a publicist, she personally reached out to Daniel’s agent at The Wall Group – and he described how they both had an ‘instant connection.’
‘I knew what she wanted—it was one of those things where, she looked at herself in the mirror and was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what I always wanted, but I didn’t know how to get there,’ he told the publication.
The pair then kept in touch and while working on her former blog The Tig, Meghan asked Daniel to give her a helping hand.
He has remained in contact with the Duchess throughout her life in the royal family and was by Meghan’s side on her wedding day as he perfected her make-up.
He also attended her famous baby shower in New York alongside celebrities like Gayle King and Serena Williams.
He was one of the first to visit the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they moved into Frogmore Cottage shortly before Archie’s birth.
The royal also surprised Daniel in New York for his birthday last September, with the makeup artist revealing the news by sharing a snap on Instagram of a plate of cupcakes.
The accompanying message was yet another indication of the closeness of their friendship, with the make-up artist referring to the Duchess of Sussex by her nickname, ‘Meg’.
The makeup artist has often spoken about his royal connection previously told Grazia magazine: ‘Meghan makes me go on YouTube to learn about things. She’ll be like, Oh I follow this person and they did it this way- and I’m like, “Oh OK’.”‘
He previously told Harper’s Bazaar he was too busy to travel to London before the Duchess’s wedding so they had no opportunity to trial the look beforehand – despite some 17 million people tuning in to watch the big day, so the pair teamed up to plan the make up via Zoom.
Daniel opted for a natural look for the Duchess because of different lighting situations throughout the day.
And for her evening reception look, a Stella McCartney dress, he chose darker makeup look and did more definition on the eyes.
