Meghan Markle is in talks with Vogue to have a regular column in both the magazine’s US and UK editions focusing on her charity work, after Amal Clooney ‘encouraged Duchess to promote her philanthropy projects’
- Meghan Markle is in discussions with Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour about writing a regular column focusing on her charity work for the magazine
- The monthly feature would be similar to the article being put together to accompany her upcoming photoshoot for the September issue in the UK
- Annie Leibovitz is in talks to shoot the initial piece in September’s issue, which insiders said would see Meghan pose in outfits created by emerging designers
- ‘The spread in Vogue won’t be a superficial photoshoot – on the contrary, she wants to use it as a platform to make a difference,’ a source told DailyMail.com
- The collaboration was partially inspired by Amal Clooney, according to the source, who encouraged Meghan to use Vogue to promote her charity work
- Meghan has maintained a low profile since giving birth to Archie and is understood to see the spread as a way to ease herself back into royal life
The Duchess of Sussex is in discussions with Anna Wintour about writing a regular column focusing on her charity work for Vogue, DailyMail.com can disclose.
Sources close to the talks say the monthly feature would be similar to the article being put together to accompany her upcoming photoshoot for the publication’s September issue in the UK.
But Meghan will not appear on the cover of the magazine due to her reported desire for the story to focus on women’s empowerment instead of her.
And, in a further sign that the new mother favors media based in her native US, both the imminent photoshoot and her putative columns are slated to run in American as well as British Vogue.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Conde Nast US and UK declined to comment to DailyMail.com after repeated requests over the course of a week.
The talks come amid mounting criticism of her and Prince Harry’s attempt to stop British taxpayers knowing basic details about their son Archie’s life – including a refusal this weekend to say who the godparents were at his christening – despite spending $3 million of public funds renovating their new residence, Frogmore Cottage.
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘The spread in Vogue won’t be a superficial photoshoot – on the contrary, she wants to use it as a platform to make a difference.
‘She is working with Vogue as a contributing editor on a few fabulous stories about the causes that are near and dear to her and it may eventually become a regular column.
‘Anna Wintour is also part of the talks and is in discussion about running some or all of the stories in US Vogue.’
The collaboration with Vogue was partially inspired by Amal Clooney, according to the source, who encouraged the Duchess to use the magazine to promote her charity work.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz is in talks to shoot the initial piece, which insiders said would see the Duchess pose in outfits created by emerging designers whose backstories will be linked to her favorite causes such as mental health and women’s rights.
The source added: ‘It’s all being planned out but it will be sensational and really shine a spotlight on some very worthwhile organizations.’
A source told the Express newspaper that the Duchess had been offered the cover but declined so she does not take attention away from the causes she wants to feature.
Meghan is not the first royal to appear in British Vogue, with sister-in-law Kate appearing on the front cover in June 2016.
Princess Diana featured on the cover three times, while Princess Anne has also appeared three times: in September 1971, May 1973 and November 1973.
No serving British royal has ever appeared in US Vogue – although Princess Diana did make the cover following her divorce from Prince Charles and the removal of her HRH status in 1997.
Meghan is not the first royal to appear in British Vogue, with sister-in-law Kate (left) appearing on the front cover in June 2016 and Princess Diana featured on the cover three times (right)
Anything that does appear in US Vogue risks raising eyebrows after Meghan was accused of giving the American press preferential treatment in the wake of son Archie’s arrival – including allowing CBS to film the new baby in addition to British broadcasters.
CBS This Morning host Gayle King was present at her $500,000 New York baby shower.
Prince Harry is currently working alongside Oprah Winfrey – a close friend of King – on a documentary for Apple TV focusing on mental health.
The Duchess has also has an American PR supremo in Sara Latham whose previous role was as a senior advisor for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
British-born Wintour, 69, is no stranger to royalty and was pictured sitting next to the Queen in February 2018 during the Richard Quinn show at London Fashion Week.
In May 2017, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire and was presented with her gong by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
She has also spent time with other members of the Royal Family, including the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex, and became friends with Princess Diana after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Wintour’s British Vogue counterpart Edward Enninful, 47, has had fewer meetings with the royals but did receive an OBE from Princess Anne in 2014 and has also met the Duchess of Cambridge.
Source: dailymail