Edward Enninful, the former editor of British Vogue, has revealed that Kensington Palace blocked a second guest-edited issue with Meghan Markle. In an interview, Enninful disclosed that the Duchess of Sussex had proposed a follow-up to their successful September 2019 issue, but the Palace intervened, preventing the collaboration from going ahead.
The original issue, which featured a cover of 15 'Forces for Change' selected by Markle, sold out within two weeks and sparked a culture war. Enninful described the secret planning process, which involved code names and covert meetings at Kensington Palace, as 'the most challenging step' of his career. The magazine had to be printed face-down to avoid leaks.
Enninful noted that the backlash against Markle was disproportionately harsh compared to other royal guest editors, such as Prince Charles's stints at Country Life. He attributed some of the criticism to racism and personal attacks, stating, 'It was more than racism – it was personal, attacking someone you don't know.'
Despite the controversy, Enninful expressed pride in the issue's impact, saying it proved magazines could still spark debate. However, the Palace's decision to block a second issue underscores the tensions surrounding Markle's role as a working royal.
