Meghan Markle was allegedly snubbed from being British Vogue’s print and digital cover star in 2022, leading to a supposed bust-up with the then-editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.
The former fashion bible editor planned to run features sharing insight into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s charitable work, designed to tie in with Meghan’s keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester in September that year.
However, the Mail on Sunday revealed that Meghan and Edward’s friendship imploded during a disagreement over how Vogue planned to feature the Sussex’s charitable work.
Conde Nast insiders claimed that the coverage was pulled abruptly and scrapped.
A source said: ‘The duchess and her team had high expectations and were expecting she might get a print cover or at least a digital cover out of it, but Enninful was not able to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month.’
So, who was the celebrity that trumped the Montecito-based mother-of-two in becoming Vogue’s cover star?
British Vogue’s September 2022 cover star was Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista.
In the issue, Linda, 60, opened up about her struggle to ‘love herself’ again after a botched cosmetic procedure left her ‘permanently deformed’ and ‘brutally disfigured.’
In August, British Vogue ran a Pride edition with various different stars, including Cynthia Erivo (pictured) and Cara Delevingne
The model had spent the six years before the shoot ‘in hiding’ after suffering from a rare reaction to the procedure known as CoolSculpting, which was designed to decrease her fat cells but instead made them become enlarged.
She had since undergone two liposuction surgeries to help fix the problem and announced in February of that year that she was no longer living in ‘shame.’
The cover marked Linda’s triumphant return to modelling – and she looked flawless in British Vogue’s September 2022 issue.
However, if Meghan was longing for the August slot to discuss her charity work ahead of the One Young World Summit, a Pride issue was in the way.
Vogue celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community with its special August issue, marking 50 years of London Pride.
Edward assembled and styled a cast of gay women and men, trans, nonbinary and queer people from Vogue’s world for the issue.
Among them are model Cara Delevingne, actors Ariana DeBose, and Cynthia Erivo. According to Edwards Enninful, the 12 cover stars are ‘united in a mission to shape the future together’.
As the issue launched, Edward Enninful lamented reports of rising homophobic attacks and transphobic sentiments.
British Vogue’s September 2022 cover star was Canadian model Linda Evangelista, 60 (pictured)
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly cut ties with Edward Enninful over his decision not to feature her as British Vogue’s cover star in 2022
He said: ‘There is a dispiriting irony that in this year of celebration, there is an apparent uptick in transphobia in this country; that reports of homophobic attacks are on the rise; that many gender-nonconforming and queer people, who are just trying to get on with their lives, remain the object of ridicule, minimalism, and rancour.
Elsewhere, in the US, Meghan’s close friend Serena Williams interestingly secured the American September cover slot.
Edward’s decision to spotlight other stars allegedly resulted in the breakdown of his friendship with Meghan.
The pair previously shared a close bond. So much so that Meghan recalled, after guest-editing the fashion bible six years ago, that they were ‘like-minded thinkers’ who enjoyed ‘philosophising’ over steaming cups of mint tea.
Today, however, they are no longer on speaking terms – and the reason for the fallout has remained one of fashion’s most tightly guarded secrets.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that their friendship imploded during a disagreement over how Vogue planned to feature a glossy showcase of Meghan and Prince Harry’s charitable work.
A source said: ‘The duchess and her team had high expectations and were expecting she might get a print cover or at least a digital cover out of it, but Enninful was not able to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month.’
Shelving the project is said to have caused irreparable damage to their friendship. ‘Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast,’ a source told the MoS.
The Duchess of Sussex (pictured) and the former editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, are no longer on speaking terms – and the reason for the fallout has remained one of fashion’s most tightly guarded secrets
The Mail on Sunday revealed that their friendship supposedly imploded during a disagreement over how Vogue planned to feature a glossy showcase of Meghan and Prince Harry ‘s charitable work
‘The duchess and her team had high expectations and were expecting she might get a print cover or at least a digital cover out of it, but Enninful (pictured)was not able to meet those expectations,’ a source said
‘The whole process became very difficult. Edward could only promise her a big showy feature inside the magazine and online – but she turned it down.’
According to insiders, the project needed a full production team including photographers, videographers, stylists and editors to shoot exclusive images and film an in-depth video feature with the Sussexes.
Sources claim that after Mr Enninful explained he had another cover in mind, Meghan’s team had asked if the couple could feature on Vogue’s special digital cover instead, which is released alongside the print edition.
But again, it is understood that Mr Enninful declined.
‘He didn’t think it was appropriate to give her the cover,’ the source explained.
It was then that Meghan’s team pulled the plug. Relations between the pair never recovered.
Sources added that during the years that followed Mr Enninful has increased his public involvement with the Royal Family, and claim this is not something Meghan could easily overlook, particularly as he was initially supportive of her now-infamous ‘Megxit’ Oprah interview in 2021.
Mr Enninful, who was awarded an OBE in 2016 for his services to diversity in the fashion industry, is a trustee for The King’s Fund, King Charles’s charity, and interviewed the monarch for Vogue when he was still Prince of Wales in 2020. He attended his coronation in 2023.
Mr Enninful follows all three of the King’s charitable organisations on Instagram – but tellingly, does not follow Meghan or any of her enterprises.
It all stands in stark contrast to their previous relationship. In 2019, the pair collaborated on an issue of British Vogue which became the fastest-selling in the magazine’s 104-year history, selling out in ten days.
The ‘Forces for Change’ issue put inspirational women – including former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda – on the cover.
The following year Mr Enninful addressed criticism Meghan had received when she joined the Royal Family.
He defended the duchess, calling her a ‘brave woman’ and describing the treatment of her as ‘very unfair’ and ‘harsh’.
But he said he ‘wouldn’t just blame it on racism’, adding: ‘I think sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules.’ Whether he would defend her again today is another matter.
The Duchess of Sussex and Mr Enninful were approached for comment by the MoS.
Conde Nast also declined to comment.
