Why Anna Wintour’s Vogue Cover Silence Speaks Louder Than the Meghan Markle Rumors

Recent headlines suggest that Meghan was “banned” from a Vogue cover after making what insiders called “impossible” demands. Reports paint a picture of a frustrated Vogue editorial team, led by Anna Wintour, backing away from a global September 2022 cover featuring the Duchess of Sussex. However, amid the media frenzy, one critical detail stands out: Anna Wintour has never publicly confirmed any part of this account.

The story began gaining traction after Page Six and the Daily Mail cited unnamed sources who alleged that Meghan and her team wanted extensive creative control. According to these reports, she requested input over everything from the photographer and writer to final edit approval, and even asked for a simultaneous UK and US Vogue cover. One anonymous insider remarked that “not even Beyoncé gets that,” alluding to the idea that Meghan overstepped industry norms.

In contrast to the silence surrounding Meghan’s alleged negotiations, Anna Wintour has directly responded to rumors involving Kate Middleton. Reports emerged earlier this year that the Princess of Wales had been offered not just one, but two Vogue covers—US and UK—with complete editorial control. When questioned at Buckingham Palace after receiving the prestigious Order of the Companions of Honour, Wintour calmly dismissed the rumors, stating, “Yeah, I don’t know where those [rumors] have come from, do you?”

This discrepancy is telling. Wintour, who rarely comments publicly on speculative journalism, chose to disavow the Middleton rumors when directly asked. Her lack of comment on the Meghan Markle narrative could mean several things: the reports could be exaggerated, flat-out false, or too politically sensitive to confirm or deny without creating a further media firestorm. In the absence of a direct denial, speculation thrives.

For Meghan Markle, this isn’t the first time her editorial collaborations have stirred conversation. In 2019, she guest-edited the September issue of British Vogue, titled Forces for Change, which spotlighted a diverse array of women but did not feature Markle herself on the cover. At the time, she explained that appearing on the cover would be “boastful.” That editorial partnership with Edward Enninful, then editor-in-chief of British Vogue, was initially praised. But according to more recent coverage, their relationship may have soured over the failed 2022 project, though other sources say they remain on cordial terms.

There’s also the broader media context to consider. The British press often pits Meghan against Kate Middleton, portraying them as stylistic and symbolic opposites. Framing one as the “gracious, collaborative royal” and the other as the “demanding outsider” reinforces a divisive narrative that has long fueled public fascination—and criticism. The fact that Wintour publicly addressed Middleton but not Markle could be interpreted as reinforcing that dichotomy.

But it’s important to remember that Vogue, like the royals themselves, operates under an unspoken code of discretion. Just because Wintour hasn’t spoken out doesn’t make the claims true. Vogue may choose not to comment either way to avoid jeopardizing relationships with high-profile figures.

What is clear, however, is that both women are seen as fashion icons—each wielding a different kind of cultural power. Kate Middleton continues to receive mainstream fashion praise for her polished, regal looks, often aligning with traditional expectations. Meghan Markle, on the other hand, uses fashion more deliberately as part of her broader branding and activism, which sometimes comes into tension with traditional institutions.

As readers and observers, it’s worth being cautious about anonymously sourced media stories—especially when those stories seem to serve familiar tropes. The public silence from Meghan Markle and Vogue may be less about guilt and more about refusing to play into a narrative that benefits no one but the tabloids.

Until Anna Wintour—or Meghan—says more, that silence may be the only truly editorial decision we can count on.