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Beauty
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Meghan Markle’s wedding day make-up artist on how he achieved that natural look

Daniel Martin and the Duchess of Sussex are old friends, so he felt no pressure making her up for her marriage to Prince Harry. He takes us through his 45-minute routine that day

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Meghan Markle waves to the crowd as she and Prince Harry go on the carriage procession after their wedding at Windsor Castle, west of London. Photo: Alamy
Kavita Daswani

Daniel Martin says he did not realise the significance of what he had signed up for until he was in the car following Meghan Markle, now Duchess of Sussex, as she was transported to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding ceremony.

“There were all these people carrying giant signs like it was a protest, but it was for something good,” said Martin. “That’s when it hit me, that this was on a whole other level.”

Martin was the make-up artist behind Markle’s glowing and refreshingly restrained look when she wed the UK’s Prince Harry in May.

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He lives in New York and describes himself as “Frasian” – his father is French, his mother is Vietnamese, and his stepmother is Korean. He was in Los Angeles recently, accompanying his friend and collaborator Victoria Tsai, founder of the cult-favourite Tatcha skincare line, at an event for her brand. Bald, bespectacled and thoughtful, he wore a matching floral two-piece combo that was about the only flamboyant thing about him.

Markle’s make-up for the big occasion was done by make-up artist Daniel Martin. Photo: AP
Markle’s make-up for the big occasion was done by make-up artist Daniel Martin. Photo: AP
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Martin and Markle too are long-time friends and collaborators. Before she became a duchess, Markle was an actress and the founder of The Tig, a lifestyle and fashion blog that she closed after three years.

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