Meghan Markle ditches slicked-back tresses and glamorous make-up for beachy boho waves and natural skin at children's hospital gala in LA

Meghan Markle has become known for her signature slicked back hairstyles, often pulling her rich brunette tresses back into a low ponytail or bun.

But last night, the Duchess of Sussex leaned into her boho California side as she looked effortlessly chic with some beachy waves at the LA Children's Hospital gala.

It's an usual look for the mother-of-two, 43, who typically opts for sleek, straightened variants or very structured waves - often accentuating her features with make-up.

This past year, she has often been seen combing her locks back and away from her face - but this weekend, she appeared to go all natural with not just her hair but minimal lashings of lip-gloss and mascara, letting her complexion shine.

When she and her husband Prince Harry made their trip to Colombia in August, Meghan brandished a series of styles that showed off her jawline and collated her hair into a silky, glossy finish.

The Duchess often opted to pull her tresses into a ponytail - both low and bouncy ones - which would have served perfectly for the hot weather.

She also often accessorises the look with chunky statement earrings, which gives the perfect opportunity to let them shine.

Meghan is also fond of pulling her hair into a collected slicked-back bun, or twist.

At events like Variety's 2023 Power of Women, and certain engagements while visiting Nigeria with the Duke of Sussex this year, she was a fan of the elegant style which has been a classic for the Duchess.

She has often teamed it with bold monochrome looks to curate a bold and impactful ensemble.

In fact, the scarlet Carolina Herrera gown Meghan wore last night was in 2021 teamed with a ballerina-style bun and striking eyeliner, at the Salute To Freedom Gala in New York.

However, while Meghan is fond of the deftly structured looks, she has also at times opted for a more glamorous option by including wispy face-framing locks at the front.

While visiting the State Governor House in Lagos this year, she had her carefully styled French twist made all the more chic with carefully flowing bangs to accentuate her visage.

The Duchess repeated the look earlier this summer, when visiting the Municipal Theatre in Cali, Colombia.

The principle has also served her well for half-up half-down do's, such as the one she wore for the Dream Big Basketball clinic in Nigeria in May.

At times Meghan has worn her hair down in waves, she has opted for more structured curls, which are straight at the top, in contrast to her most recent ensemble at the LA Children's Hospital gala.

Her locks are full of volume and complement her California glow - teamed stunningly with her red dress.

Meghan has in past spoken about her history with her hair - and since her teenage years had undergone a rigorous hair-straightening regime.

In 2011, she said: 'My mom is black and my dad is Dutch and Irish, so the texture of my hair is densely curly. I've been getting Brazilian blowouts for a couple of years.'

A Brazilian blow-dry is a semi-permanent straightening treatment where a mix of keratin (a key structural protein in hair and nails) and formaldehyde is applied to the head to penetrate hair cuticles, smoothing the hair shaft.

The results can last up to four months and the treatment can cost from around £100 to £350.

It comes as on Saturday Meghan caught all eyes as she made a glamorous appearance re-wearing a red Carolina Herrera gown to the LA Children's Hospital gala.

She was seen greeting young fans, as the duchess prepared for a star-studded night featuring a performance by Demi Lovato and appearances by presenters Kaley Cuoco , Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Hanks.

The duchess went stag to the event at LA Live's event deck in downtown Los Angeles as her husband, Harry , spent the night of his 40th birthday hiking with some friends.

Sources close to the couple say the duchess booked the hiking trip for Harry and his pals.

Yet it comes after the couple made a series of separate plans, including Harry's solo trips to London and Lesotho in recent weeks.

The Duke has appeared at ten solo engagements in the last 15 days without his wife as he embarked on a 'quasi-royal tour' across three countries, including New York, London and Lesotho.

It has also been reported that Meghan was unable to come to a charity event she was set to attend with Prince Harry because she was 'sick.'

And when the Duke was goofing around with chat show host Jimmy Fallon in New York, film star George Clooney – a guest at his wedding in 2018 – was hosting a humanitarian awards ceremony in the Big Apple – and Harry was noticeably absent.

In a sweet moment from Saturday's gala, Meghan also joked with a young boy that it was 'past his bedtime'.

Sweet footage showed the Duchess greeting a family at last night's event before joking to a child about being up so late.

'It's past your bedtime for sure,' Meghan said, while chatting to the boy being held by his mother.

She added: 'How old are they? Oh so really close to our kids. Three and five.'