The ultimate sign that all wasn't right between one-time friends Meghan Markle and Edward Enninful
By JESSICA GREEN
From Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Gigi Hadid to Salma Hayek, Naomi Campbell and Miley Cyrus, 40 stunning British Vogue stars came together to shoot the cover of Edward Enninful's final edition.
But for royal fans, Meghan Markle, 43, was noticeably absent from the impressive line-up - which also included her pals Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, and Jameela Jamil.
Ahead of the publication of the March 2024 issue, the Duchess of Sussex's supporters questioned her lack of appearance in the cover, considering Prince Harry's wife was known to once be friends with the former editor of British Vogue.
However, it's since become clear that the duo are no longer on speaking terms - and the reason for the fallout, thought to have happened around two years prior to Mr Enninful's final cover, has remained one of fashion's most tightly guarded secrets.
But The Mail on Sunday revealed this weekend that their friendship imploded during a disagreement over how Vogue planned to feature a glossy showcase of Meghan and Prince Harry's charitable work.
The coverage, designed to tie in with Meghan's keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester in September 2022, would have involved extensive features across the magazine and its digital editions.
But Conde Nast insiders claim it was abruptly pulled and scrapped completely.
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.'
Meghan Markle and Edward Enninful (pictured together) are reportedly no longer on speaking terms
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 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 add 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.
Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Gigi Hadid were among 40 British Vogue stars that came together to shoot the cover for Edward Enninful's final edition
Should Markle have been included on the cover?
Yes
No
It's unclear if the Duchess of Sussex was contacted to appear on the March 2024 magazine cover.
Meghan and Mr Enninful's reported relationship at the moment all stands in stark contrast to their previous friendship. In 2019, the pair collaborated on an issue of British Vogue.
Meghan's 'Forces for Change' issue in September of that year put inspirational women including actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda, and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern on the front cover.
When it was published, it was the fastest selling issue in the magazine's 104-year history, selling out in less than 10 days.
The following year, Mr Enninful spoke to Sky News about criticism Meghan received when she joined the royal family, arguing that he didn't believe it was solely down to racism.
Describing the Duchess as a 'brave woman', he said: 'Parts of it were probably racism, but it was more of an institution.'
He added that while criticism was 'harsh', he 'wouldn't just blame it on racism', saying: 'She walked into an institution and everyone expected her to know the rules. And I think sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules.'
However, Mr Enniful, who has previously praised King Charles as a monarch who can 'evolve with the times', continued to say he believed the treatment of her was 'very unfair'.
Meghan's 'Forces for Change' issue in September 2019 put inspirational women including actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda, and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern on the front cover
Mr Enninful's last shoot as editor-in-chief brought together 40 stars from across Hollywood and the fashion industry including Spice Girl and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, Love Island host Maya Jama and supermodel Naomi Campbell.
'So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six-and-a-half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover. It's been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour,' Mr Enninful said at the time.
'As I step into my new role, as Conde Nast's global creative and cultural adviser for Vogue, I'm determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media, and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going.
'We always say it, because it always needs to be said: there is a great deal yet to be done.'
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In an editor's letter, Mr Enninful described the 'gratitude' he felt and said he was 'proud that some important work has been done' at the publication.
Other famous women who featured on the cover of the British magazine included Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, Orange Is The New Black actress Laverne Cox, supermodel Cindy Crawford and singer Miley Cyrus.
British model and actress Cara Delevingne, actress and activist Jane Fonda, fashion model Gigi Hadid, Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek and singer Dua Lipa also featured.
There was also The Queen's Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy, singer Rina Sawayama, fashion model Christy Turlington, TV presenter and actress Jameela Jamil and former tennis player Serena Williams.
The shoot was photographed by Steven Meisel and took place in the December prior to the magazine publication date in a studio in Manhattan, New York.
Mr Enninful was honoured with an OBE for services to diversity in the fashion industry as part of Queen Elizabeth II's 2016 Birthday Honours List.
He took over as editor-in-chief of British Vogue in August 2017, as the first black man to hold the top job at the British fashion magazine, and in December 2020 was promoted to European editorial director of Vogue.
During his years at the top of the fashion magazine, he has continued to break boundaries and been a champion for greater inclusivity in the industry.
He described the May 2023 issue of the publication, which included 19 disabled people from the worlds of fashion, sport, culture and activism and featured five disabled people on its cover, as 'one of the proudest moments of my career'.
The Duchess of Sussex and Mr Enninful were approached for comment by the MoS.
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