Meghan Markle; Shayna Jack; Barnaby Joyce
The royal mum-of-one guest edits British Vogue
ON JULY 29, MEGHAN, DUCHESS of Sussex, announced that she had been given the opportunity to guest edit the September issue of British Vogue – a first in the publication’s 103-year-history.
“Guest Editing the September issue of British Vogue has been rewarding, educational and inspiring,” Meghan wrote on her and Prince Harry’s joint Instagram account @sussexroyal.
“To deep dive into this process, working quietly behind the scenes for so many months, I am happy to now be able to share what we have created.”
The special issue, titled “Forces for Change”, took seven months to create with the duchess working closely with Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful “to create an issue that highlights the power of the collective”.
A statement on @sussexroyal revealed “For the cover, The Duchess chose a diverse selection of women from all walks of life, each driving impact and raising the bar for equality, kindness, justice and open-mindedness.
“The sixteenth space on the cover, a mirror, was included so that when you hold the issue
in your hands, you see yourself as part of this collective.”
The cover features inspirational women including former First Lady Michelle Obama, with whom Meghan conducted “an exclusive interview”, as well as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and veteran actress Jane Fonda.
Not on the cover, however, was the duchess herself. “From the very beginning, we talked about the cover — whether she would be on it or not,” Enninful said in a statement.
“In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a ‘boastful’ thing to do for this particular project. She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires.”
In addition to hand-picking the 15 women to appear on the cover, Meghan also chose famed photographer Peter Lindbergh (who photographed her for a Vanity Fair cover story in 2017 after Prince Harry confirmed their relationship) to capture the women who are trying “to change the world for the better”.
“My instructions from the duchess were clear: ‘I want to see freckles!’ ” Lindbergh told British Vogue.
“Well, that was like running through open doors for me. I love freckles.”