Did Vogue Snub Meghan Markle? Prince Harry's Wife Excluded From Edward Enninful's Final Cover
Meghan Markle was surprisingly not included in Edward Enninful's final cover for Vogue's 40 Icons.
British Vogue just released the cover of Enninful's final edition, reportedly a product of six and a half years of work and 153 covers. It featured singers, actresses and models who made a mark in the industry they belonged to, and Markle was noticeably missing from the roster.
"When the idea for the cover was ignited, there was only one question: would 40 of the most booked and blessed women on earth actually make it to one studio in Manhattan, on one day in December?" the post featuring the cover read.
"Spoiler alert: they came. Because who else could get 40 of the greatest talents from fashion, Hollywood and beyond in one room for a show of unity but Edward?"
After six and a half years and 153 cover stars behold #EdwardEnninful’s final edition of #BritishVogue. When the idea for the cover was ignited, there was only one question: would 40 of the most booked and blessed women on earth actually make it to one studio in Manhattan, on one… pic.twitter.com/50RS0ddCLS
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) February 8, 2024
Among the women featured on the cover were mother and daughter Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford, actress Salma Hayek, Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista, Gigi Hadid, and pop stars Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa. Christy Turlington Burns, Jane Fonda, Maya Jama and Selma Blair were also part of the cover. Markle's BFF Serena Williams also graced the cover wearing a silk gown from Versace.
Markle's noticeable absence surprised many as she became close with the editor when she guest edited the magazine's September 2019 issue. Markle, however, left herself off the issue's cover, noting that she would look "boastful" if she did so and instead gave the spotlight to 15 women who "break barriers."
"From the very beginning, we talked about the cover -- whether she would be on it or not. In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a 'boastful' thing to do for this particular project," Enninful said of the Duchess of Sussex at the time, per The Sun. "She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires."
Enninful was in "constant contact" with Markle using WhatsApp as he watched the latter chat with Oprah Winfrey, according to the Daily Mail.
However, British journalist and investigative reporter Tom Bower claimed in his 2022 book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War" that the editor and former actress feuded when they worked on the September 2019 issue.
The staff were reportedly left in "silent exasperation" at Markle and her demands. The duchess allegedly proposed poor ideas and was reportedly difficult to approach with opposing suggestions.
Bower also claimed that Enninful and Markle had different opinions on how to market the edition. Markle, a former "Suits" star, reportedly wanted to leak snippets online before its release. However, the editor wanted to keep it a secret until its release.
Markle also allegedly asked that the magazine be released in the United States ahead of the United Kingdom. The request reportedly ruffled feathers with the couple's communications team head, Sara Latham.
