Meghan Markle’s Demands to Vogue Left Editors Furious as Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful Refused to Budge
Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of a royal-style storm — this time involving the world’s most powerful fashion figures. Reports have emerged revealing how the Duchess of Sussex’s ambitious list of demands allegedly frustrated top Vogue editors, including Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful, during her early interactions with the magazine.
According to insiders, Meghan’s meeting with Vogue dates back to the period before she married Prince Harry, when she was still carving out her public identity as an actress and humanitarian. During that time, she reportedly insisted on having full creative control over her proposed feature.
A source told Page Six, “Meghan asked for control over the photographer, writer, final edit, photos, cover lines, and even wanted it to be a global issue.” The insider emphasized that such demands were unheard of in the publishing world, adding, “Nobody gets that not even Beyoncé.”
The revelation has sparked widespread amusement among fashion insiders, who say the Duchess’s expectations clashed with the reality of how major magazines operate. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s legendary editor-in-chief known for her iron grip on creative decisions, reportedly had no interest in entertaining Meghan’s requests.
“Anna wasn’t interested,” the source revealed, adding that Meghan even requested a Zoom meeting with Wintour to persuade her to reconsider. “Anna did it to be polite, but her mind was already made up,” the insider noted.
According to The Daily Mail, former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful also found himself caught in the middle of the drama. The source explained that Meghan’s team had “high expectations,” hoping for either a print cover or at least a major digital cover feature. But those plans quickly fell apart.
“Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Condé Nast,” the insider shared. “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.”
The tension between Meghan Markle and Vogue editors reportedly became so strained that both sides walked away frustrated. Enninful, who at the time was one of the most influential editors in British fashion, had already lined up a major celebrity for that month’s issue and couldn’t accommodate Meghan’s demands.
Royal watchers have since pointed out that this clash was a glimpse into Meghan’s growing ambition and desire for creative independence, traits that have continued to define her public life since leaving the royal family.
Insiders familiar with the fashion world say Meghan’s approach might have been driven by her long-term vision of crafting a global personal brand something she has since attempted through her lifestyle ventures and media partnerships in the United States.
“Meghan wanted control, not collaboration,” one fashion insider remarked. “Vogue operates under strict editorial authority, and asking to override that structure was a red flag. It was never going to happen.”
The Duchess of Sussex, however, did eventually land a high-profile Vogue collaboration in 2019, when she guest-edited the Forces for Change issue of British Vogue while still a working royal. That edition, curated alongside Edward Enninful, featured influential women from around the world and was widely praised for its empowering message — though it also attracted criticism from royal traditionalists.
Despite the earlier behind-the-scenes drama, both Meghan and Enninful later appeared cordial in public. However, the resurfacing of this story has reignited debate over Meghan’s reputation for being “demanding” when it comes to her image and media representation.
Royal expert Daniela Elser recently commented, “Meghan’s relationship with the press and fashion media has always been complicated. She wants to control the narrative completely, but that doesn’t always sit well with institutions that value editorial independence.”
As Meghan continues to rebuild her brand in Hollywood and develop new projects under her Archewell foundation, this incident serves as a reminder of the cultural clash between her desire for autonomy and the rigid hierarchies of elite institutions like Vogue.
For now, it seems Anna Wintour and Meghan Markle’s paths have crossed in a way that perfectly reflects their shared trait, strong-willed women determined to shape their own stories, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way
