Hairstylist George Northwood broke his silence on working with the Duchess of Sussex on Instagram Tuesday, the same day that marks the start of Markle and husband Prince Harry’s post-royal life.

Northwood shared images of his favorite hair looks he created for the Duchess, 38, calling their two years of collaboration “an enormous privilege and a lot of fun” and wishing the Sussexes “much love and luck for [their] next exciting chapter.”

The stylist also spoke with British Vogue about his work with Markle, including the genesis of her signature undone chignon.

“The messy bun purely came off the back of making the hair both appropriate and adhering to royal protocol, and modern at the same time,” he explained. “We wanted it to be up, because a lot of the time it was appropriate for it to be up, but we didn’t want it to be too formal. We always wanted it to be refined imperfection — that’s what sums her up.”

So when it came to picking a look for Markle’s royal wedding reception in 2018, the simple ‘do was a no-brainer. “By this point, the messy bun had become such a thing and we wanted to do something equally relaxed and effortless,” Northwood recalled.

“Often with brides — and this was no different — the daytime bit is a bit more nerve-wracking, and then the evening comes and it’s more about wanting to have fun. That’s what my hair is about: it’s wearable, effortless and can withstand a dance floor.”

Northwood said he and Markle “hit it off immediately” upon first meeting in February 2018. “I was a bit worked up beforehand and then, as soon as I met her, she was just like my California girl clients,” he told the outlet. “She said, ‘I’m a Cali girl,’ and I just said, ‘One of my favourites then.’ We hit it off — we immediately spoke the same language.”

And the Duchess, according to her hair guru, never lost that easy West Coast energy, even after becoming a member of the monarchy. “The way she approaches things is how an everyday woman would approach things — she has a real sense of style and she wanted to look approachable, even though she was a princess,” he said.

“She was a very modern princess, the sort of princess we can relate to and aspire to, and the hair just fell into that.”

And despite Markle, Prince Harry and baby Archie decamping to Los Angeles, Northwood — who is based in London — says he and the Duchess are staying in touch. “She always handled the pressure with such grace and professionalism,” the hairstylist told British Vogue.

“We align on so many values and things she stands for are close to my heart. It’s a new chapter, obviously we aren’t living in the same country but I still check in all the time. She puts so much thought into everything, she really has your back and supports small businesses. Working with them was an enormous privilege and I enjoyed every minute — we created some iconic moments.”