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.
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 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. Meghan has maintained a low profile since giving birth to Archie at the beginning of May and is understood to see the Vogue spread as the perfect way to ease herself back into royal life. Pictured: Meghan at Archie’s christening at the Queen’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday (pictured)
The collaboration was partially inspired by Amal Clooney (pictured with her husband George at Meghan and Harry’s wedding last May), according to the source, who encouraged Meghan to use Vogue to promote her charity work
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’
Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Conde Nast US and UK declined to comment to DailyMail.com.
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)
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Anna Wintour is also part of the talks and is in discussion about running some or all of the stories in US Vogue.’ Pictured: Vogue editor Wintour in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Monday
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.
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
He and Wintour are understood to have clashed over the Queen’s appearance at Richard Quinn – while the US Vogue editor was aware she would attend, Enninful was not so flew to Milan and missed the show.
Enninful, who was born in Ghana, has waged a campaign to diversify the team and look of British Vogue since taking over the magazine in August 2017.
Among his first appointments were supermodel Naomi Campbell and director Steve McQueen – both of whom joined the team as contributing editors.
Meghan is no stranger to the media and was an enthusiastic writer and blogger herself prior to meeting Prince Harry, 34.
Among her work was an article for Elle in which she described growing up biracial in Los Angeles and a blog called The Tig – named for her favorite wine, Tiganello, a red from Italy which retails for upwards of $120 a bottle.
The blog was billed as a ‘hub for the discerning palate – those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion, beauty’ and was comprised of a series of articles mostly written by Meghan herself, documenting her travels and her passion for sustainability.
It also featured ‘Tig Talk’ interviews conducted by the Duchess that profiled famous acquaintances such as model Jessica Stam and actress Emmy Rossum. She deleted it after beginning her relationship with Prince Harry.
And although her personal Instagram account was closed down on her engagement, Meghan is thought to be overseeing the @sussexroyal page and has used it to share arty photos of Archie, including a shot of the newborn clutching his father’s finger.
Meghan is no stranger to the media and was an enthusiastic writer and blogger herself prior to meeting Prince Harry, 34. She had a blog called The Tig – named for her favorite wine, Tiganello, a red from Italy which retails for upwards of $120 a bottle
Meghan has maintained a low profile since giving birth to Archie at the beginning of May and is understood to see the Vogue spread as the perfect way to ease herself back into royal life.
The Duchess has, however, made several appearances since presenting Archie to the world at Windsor Castle – including the Trooping the Color parade alongside Harry, the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier this month and a trip to see Serena Williams play at Wimbledon last Thursday.
Her maternity leave was given as the reason for her not being able to take part in President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK at the start of June and she also missed out on the traditional visit to Royal Ascot two weeks ago.
Meghan did appear in photos released to mark baby Archie’s christening at the Queen’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday.
The Duchess is due to officially return to work at the start of September and will visit South Africa alongside Prince Harry in the Fall.
The visit was announced by the British High Commissioner to the African country, Nigel Casey.
Casey told local media that the couple will be arriving in October. Newborn Archie is understood to be accompanying his parents on the trip, which will also see Prince Harry visit Angola and Botswana.