Meghan Markle's Transformation Since Her Marriage To Prince Harry

From "Deal or No Deal" briefcase girl, to a high-powered lawyer on "Suits," to a real-life royal, Meghan Markle — or Meghan Sussex, as she now goes by — has undergone quite the transformation over the years. But the fairytale wedding was merely the prologue. Since stepping into royal life, and then away from it, her metamorphosis has been nothing short of stunning.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. This is, after all, the same woman who once curated The Tig, a digital sanctuary of wanderlust, wellness, and effortlessly chic living — long before she became one of the most talked-about women in the world. She had already mastered the art of balancing the relatable with the aspirational, a skill she honed with every blog post.

Sun-drenched and insouciant, Meghan's pre-Harry style could be described as California cool with a polished, red carpet edge. This meant feminine silhouettes, as she hopped out and about in flowy babydoll styles and figure-hugging cocktail dresses. But when she crossed the threshold into royal life, her glamorous West Coast aesthetic took on a new level of refinement, one befitting a duchess. In the years since, as a post-royal, Meghan's wardrobe has mirrored her reclamation. No longer bound by palace protocol, she leans into minimalist mastery: power dressing with a California soul. And she looks great doing it.

Pop culture had a big year in 2016: "Lemonade" dropped, the Kardashians were at their peak, and the last remnants of Tumblr-era trends were giving way to the rise of Instagram-driven style. It was also a huge time for Meghan Markle. The world was about to learn she was dating the fifth in line to the throne, and her style felt plucked straight from the fashion playbook of the time.

Her outfit at the AOL Build Presents "Suits" in New York tapped into the era's shift towards minimalist luxe. She paired a form-fitting black blazer with tight leather leggings in a sleek and smoldering look. The accompanying choices were equally as sexy. A deep side part let glossy, sculpted waves tumble over one risqué shoulder, and her makeup featured a punchy red lip. It's easy to see why Prince Harry fell head over heels later that year.

Just a few years prior, her style had leaned into breezy West Coast boho. But as the headlines about her personal life started rolling in, her wardrobe tightened up. The color palette darkened and the silhouettes sharpened. The carefree drape of a California sundress gave way to crisp structure and monochrome ensembles. While the deep V-neck, nipped waist, and high-gloss leather wasn't the demure duchess the tabloids would later fixate on, it was also not the wide-eyed Hollywood hopeful from before. This was a Meghan in flux.

Meghan's first Wimbledon as a royal in 2018 was as much a courtside appearance as it was a recalibration of her public image. A departure from the typical Hollywood glam we had seen her in before, her style was beginning to reach a more measured conclusion. A striped blue and white buttoned shirt was gracefully tucked into white high-waisted trousers. A pristine Panama hat perched casually in hand, and sleeves left masterfully undone fashioned her into a picture of sophisticated ease

That she was draped in Ralph Lauren was likely no accident. The brand — quintessentially old-money Americana, synonymous with preppy, WASP-coded poise — seemed to maintain a distinct sense of her stateside heritage, while also aligning her with the conservative traditions of the beloved British tennis tournament.

When the time came for Meghan to embrace the ethereal tenderness of maternity, her style exhaled into something simple and worldly. The sleek lines of her past gave way to easy textures, and her aesthetic was dubbed "Earth Mom." To introduce her newborn son — Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, or Prince Archie of Sussex — at Windsor Castle, she went for a white midi dress and nude court Manolo Blahnik heels. The sleeveless design tied lightly at the waist, which tempered the ensemble's ceremonial double-breasted paneling.

Historically, motherhood has dictated the way royal women must dress, often reinforcing traditional femininity through color and cut. Meghan, however, eschewed convention, opting for an outfit that was gentle and polished, but authoritative and modern.

This was a look by British-Jamaican designer Grace Wales Bonner, a poignant choice in context. Known for layering British heritage with Afro-Atlantic influences, Bonner introduced Savile Row to queer and Black diasporic style. Her work often operated between tradition and subversion — a fitting choice for the royal constantly navigating fault lines within the monarchy.

By June 2020, Meghan had shed the last vestiges of royal formality — geographically, ideologically, and sartorially. Speaking from Los Angeles, where she and Prince Harry had resettled after stepping down as senior royals, she recorded a message for the graduating class of Immaculate Heart High School, her alma mater. Against the distressing backdrop of the pandemic, as well as global protests following the murder of George Floyd, Meghan used the moment to address the students.

Her look — a plain, white top; a soft cream cardigan; a delicate gold pendant; and hair brushed back into a low ponytail — was removed from any aristocratic artifice. Much like her styling, her makeup was kept fresh and understated. She achieved a natural makeup base, while still allowing her freckles to shine through. At the same time, she seemed to have perfected the "naked smoky eye" trend, softly diffused and perfectly suited to the stripped-back beauty aesthetic that lockdown ushered in.

The palette was neutral, but the message wasn't. From here on, she no longer had to dress for an institution but for herself, so Meghan's style would morph into something more elemental. This moment marked a shift, not just in her wardrobe, but also in her voice. If her Hollywood years had been about visibility, and her early royal fashion about adaptation, here was a woman who had stepped outside the gilded frame and into something freer.

Prince Harry had just stood before the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, recalling the moment he knew he'd found his soulmate Meghan when the couple stepped out for a loved-up late night in Tribeca. The Duchess of Sussex looked celestial against the cityscape in a black and white bandeau-style Gabriela Hearst jumpsuit, which featured a defined, strapless neckline and relaxed pants.

Meghan had long been an ambassador for the eco-friendly Uruguayan-American designer by this point. This look was yet another example of Meghan's increasingly ideological approach to fashion, flocking towards creatives whose values married well with her own. Hearst herself has been vocal about the intersection of ethics and elegance, once stating to Vogue, "Luxury should be sustainable, they shouldn't be competing concepts."

As usual, the former actress' beauty look here was wonderfully au naturale, perfectly encapsulating her understated radiance. She sported a neat ponytail, a glowing complexion, and gentle smoky eyes while keeping her lips neutral.

May 2024 saw Meghan step away from her trusty neutrals in favor of a ravishing red number at the Women in Leadership Conference in Nigeria. Taking the stage alongside the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Meghan commanded the room in a voluminous, flamenco-like ruffled dress by Lagosian label Oríré.

The Duchess of Sussex had only recently uncovered her own Nigerian heritage, sharing on her "Archetypes" podcast that a DNA test traced 43% of her ancestry to the West African nation. As a result, she leaned into the language of fashion as a bridge to identity. With her characteristic warmth and self-awareness, she reflected on the significance of the choice, and when asked about her reaction to the discovery, she shared: "I am just flattered and honored and inspired. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived, and I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more color so I can fit in with all of you in your incredible fashion!"

Once more, Meghan's wardrobe became a reflection of her principles. As the feminist, environmentally-mindful designer Orírí Aleshinloye told Vogue, "Everything she stands for is in such alignment with the brand." This marked a wonderful turning point in Meghan's transformation, and we loved this joyful sartorial celebration of her lineage.

Meghan wasn't done infusing her style with color, as seen in the jaunty light blue Emilia Wickstead frock, adorned with a playful sailboat print, which she wore while filming with her friend, Mindy Kaling. She wore this breezy, spirited dress as part of "With Love, Meghan" her Netflix series that served as both a reclamation of narrative and a return to what she loves. The show felt very much like a televisual extension of her former lifestyle blog. If The Tig was her first foray into curating an aspirational, thoughtful lifestyle, this show built on that foundation.

During the show, she revealed how her fashion philosophy extends beyond clothes, shaping other aspects of how she cultivates her world. When discussing flower arranging, she said: "First thing I do is see what color I gravitate to, and then everything goes from there. Kind of think about it like an outfit, and once you pick the base look, you have to accessorize in a way that makes sense." This is an ethos that has defined much of her transformation, as she balances instinct, intention, and authenticity.