Meghan Markle Dines with Wedding Hairstylist in London

Meghan Markle was recently photographed dining with her royal wedding hairstylist, George Northwood, at The Park restaurant in Bayswater, London. The Duchess of Sussex, 45, was accompanied by Northwood, 47, and a member of her public relations team for the lunch. The restaurant is located less than a mile from Kensington Palace.

Markle was seen arriving at the establishment on a Wednesday, approximately one week after she met with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai for afternoon tea in London. Staff at The Park described the Duchess as "lovely" and noted that she interacted with everyone. The restaurant, a New York-inspired venue known for its diverse menu, is a frequent haunt for celebrities.

For the outing, Markle wore an outfit valued at over £20,000. This included a black tuxedo jacket from Marks & Spencer, priced at £85, paired with jeans costing up to £320. Her accessories included a diamond and emerald necklace by Logan Hollowell, estimated at £16,210, a Chanel bag worth around £6,000, and Jennifer Chamandi stilettos at £650 per pair. The Duchess's hair appeared to be freshly styled for the occasion.

Northwood, who styled Markle's hair for her 2018 wedding reception and accompanied her on her first royal tour of Australasia later that year, has maintained a close professional relationship with her. The PR executive present at the lunch was Sarah Corney, who previously worked at Netflix, promoting projects such as the documentary "Harry & Meghan" and Markle's series "With Love, Meghan." Corney is now with Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, the firm that represented Markle during her time on "Suits."

This lunch occurred less than 24 hours before Markle and Prince Harry made their first public appearance together in the UK since their return. The couple attended a series of charity engagements in Nottingham on Thursday, where Prince Harry was observed placing a protective arm around his wife. During one interaction, when a supporter welcomed her back to the UK, Markle responded, "It's wonderful to be back."

The couple's recent activities in the UK follow King Charles III's description of them as "private citizens." Their engagements have drawn criticism from some who view them as an attempt to resume royal duties informally.

Markle has also been active with her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launching a new advent calendar and a collaboration with the Malala Fund. She is donating a portion of the proceeds from jam and tea sales to Yousafzai's charity, supporting girls' education. However, reports suggest that the donation from a single day's sales may be less than the cost of the trousers she wore during her meeting with Yousafzai.