REVEALED: How a delighted Meghan Markle responded to the news that Beyoncé and Jay Z paid tribute to her by posing in front a regal portrait of her to accept an award

  • Beyoncé, 37, and Jay Z, 49, stood in front of a portrait of Meghan, 37, wearing a crown during their video acceptance speech for the BRIT Awards in February 
  • The Duchess of Sussex's makeup artist Daniel Martin opened up about the moment in the CBS News special Meghan and Harry Plus One
  • Daniel said when he sent her a photo, she texted him 'the big eye emoji' 
  • The exact emoji that was sent remains unclear, but it was likely the flushed face emoji, which is a yellow face with wide eyes and blushing cheeks 
  • The oil painting, which shows Meghan donning a crown and jewels, was created by Brooklyn-based artist Tim O'Brien
  • He originally made the oil painting for the Summer 2018 cover of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma's magazine The Key

Meghan Markle's close friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin has revealed how she reacted after she found out about Beyoncé and Jay Z's portrait tribute to her earlier this year. 

When the power couple accepted the award for Best International Group at the BRIT Awards in February, they stood in front of a regal portrait of the Duchess of Sussex wearing a crown and jewels during their video speech.  

Daniel opened up about the moment in the CBS News special Meghan and Harry Plus One, telling host Gayle King that the royal was so floored by the gesture that she didn't have any words to share — only an emoji. 

Reaction: Meghan Markle's makeup artist Daniel Martin revealed the royal texted him a 'the big eye emoji' after sending a picture of Beyoncé and Jay Z's portrait tribute to her
Reaction: Meghan Markle's makeup artist Daniel Martin revealed the royal texted him a 'the big eye emoji' after sending a picture of Beyoncé and Jay Z's portrait tribute to her

Reaction: Meghan Markle's makeup artist Daniel Martin revealed the royal texted him a 'the big eye emoji' after sending a picture of Beyoncé and Jay Z's portrait tribute to her

Throwback: Beyoncé, 37, and Jay Z, 49, stood in front of a portrait of Meghan, 37, wearing a crown during their video acceptance speech for the BRIT Awards in February

 Throwback: Beyoncé, 37, and Jay Z, 49, stood in front of a portrait of Meghan, 37, wearing a crown during their video acceptance speech for the BRIT Awards in February

'I sent her a pic,' he recalled. 'I think it was a screen grab of the two of them in front of the portrait. I think all I wrote was, "Girl." She wrote me back like the big eye emoji.'

Flattered: The exact emoji that was sent remains unclear, but it was likely the flushed face emoji (pictured)

Flattered: The exact emoji that was sent remains unclear, but it was likely the flushed face emoji (pictured)

The exact emoji that was sent remains unclear, but it was likely the flushed face emoji, which is a yellow face with raised eyebrows, wide eyes, and blushing cheeks. 

Beyoncé and Jay Z's taped acceptance speech was made to look like their 'Apes**t' music video that they filmed in the Louvre in Paris. 

While they stood in front of the Mona Lisa in their original video, the iconic painting was replaced with a hypercritical portrait of Meghan that was created by Brooklyn-based artist Tim O'Brien for their filmed speech. 

He originally made the oil painting for the Summer 2018 cover of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma's magazine The Key. 

Vibe: The couple's taped acceptance speech was made to look like their 'Apes**t' music video that they filmed in the Louvre in Paris

Vibe: The couple's taped acceptance speech was made to look like their 'Apes**t' music video that they filmed in the Louvre in Paris 

Update: While they stood in front of the Mona Lisa in their original video, the iconic painting was replaced with a portrait of Meghan for their filmed speech

Update: While they stood in front of the Mona Lisa in their original video, the iconic painting was replaced with a portrait of Meghan for their filmed speech

Beyoncé also posted a gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex on her blog, in which she thanked the biracial royal for 'pushing the race relations dialogue forward.' 

The singer praised her for putting black culture 'front and center' at her wedding to Prince Harry and congratulated her on her pregnancy. 

Pointing to the black pastor, gospel choir, and black cellist Meghan chose for her nuptials at Windsor Castle in May 2018, Beyoncé thanked her for 'using her platform for good' as a former actress and now member of the royal family.

Original request: Brooklyn-based artist Tim O'Brien the oil painting for the Summer 2018 cover of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma's magazine The Key

Original request: Brooklyn-based artist Tim O'Brien the oil painting for the Summer 2018 cover of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma's magazine The Key

Fan: Beyoncé also posted this gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex on her blog in which she thanked the royal for 'pushing the race relations dialogue forward'

Fan: Beyoncé also posted this gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex on her blog in which she thanked the royal for 'pushing the race relations dialogue forward'

Meghan was widely praised for breaking with tradition by enlisting the African-American Reverend Michael B. Curry for delivering the sermon at her nuptials while the Kingdom Choir performed a rendition of Ben E. King's Stand By Me. 

'In honor of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas. Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy,' Beyoncé wrote at the end of her post. 

During Daniel's interview with CBS News, he also opened up about Meghan and Harry becoming parents. Their baby boy Archie was born on May 6.  

'Parenting is difficult in the beginning, but I feel like they got this. They're ready for this. … there's just gonna be so much love for that baby,' he said. 

Inside scoop: Daniel was among the Duchess of Sussex's friends who were interviewed for the CBS News special Meghan and Harry Plus One

Inside scoop: Daniel was among the Duchess of Sussex's friends who were interviewed for the CBS News special Meghan and Harry Plus One

Upset: Daniel, who did Meghan's makeup for her wedding, actually broke down in tears while speaking  about all of the negative attention that the royal has faced

Upset: Daniel, who did Meghan's makeup for her wedding, actually broke down in tears while speaking  about all of the negative attention that the royal has faced

'I feel like Meghan and H are really going to keep this kid real. With lots of healthy home-cooked meals, no doubt,' he explained. 

'I'm sure the baby's gonna be raised, like … definitely clean and green.'

Daniel noted that Harry is 'so good with kids' and is going to be a great father.  

'Even when they were doing the family portrait after the wedding with everybody, he was on the floor, just playing with the kids. 

'And that's when I knew, like, he's gonna be the coolest dad,' the makeup artist recalled. 

Thoughts: Janina Gavankar, an actress and friend of the U.S.-born duchess, told CBS News that she thinks Meghan will 'be very low maintenance' as a mom

Thoughts: Janina Gavankar, an actress and friend of the U.S.-born duchess, told CBS News that she thinks Meghan will 'be very low maintenance' as a mom

Close bond: 'To have the royal family bring a child of color into the world, it's pretty awesome,' Janina said. They're pictured together in an old social media snapshot

Close bond: 'To have the royal family bring a child of color into the world, it's pretty awesome,' Janina said. They're pictured together in an old social media snapshot 

Janina Gavankar, an actress and friend of the U.S.-born duchess, told CBS News that she thinks Meghan will 'be very low maintenance' as a mom.  

'I think that she will be very hands-on, the way she would have been if she hadn't married into the royal family,' she said.  

Meghan's close friends also defended the 37-year-old against what they say is a slew of 'undeserved negative press.'  

Daniel, who did Meghan's makeup on her wedding day and also attended her extravagant Manhattan baby shower, actually broke down in tears while speaking to Gayle about all of the negative attention that the royal has faced. 

'You hear these stories and there's no truth to them,' he said, tearing up. 'I know her so well, and I know she doesn't deserve all this negative press.'  

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How Meghan Markle reacted to Beyoncé and Jay Z's portrait tribute to her

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