Meghan Markle has been slammed for “doing hardly any work” for the Royal Family as she was guest-editing an issue of British Vogue for seven months. The work, which was unpaid, was work on an issue which featured 15 “trailblazing change makers” on its cover.
The issue that Meghan, 43, worked on became the fastest-selling issue in the magazine’s 104-year history – and sold out in ten days. However, questions later arose as it emerged Meghan had only carried 22 royal engagements whilst working with British Vogue.
Royal author Robert Lacey wrote in his book, ‘Battle of Brothers’: “In the same seven months, January to July 2019, the Court Circular showed the Duchess of Sussex carrying out just 22 royal engagements, less than one per week – though this period did include Meghan’s maternity leave, along with a three-day tour to Morocco with Harry.”
He continued: “But why had this “powerhouse” recruit to the highest echelons of the House of Windsor spent seven months labouring so intensively on behalf of British Vogue – entirely unremunerated it must be emphasised again – while doing hardly any work at all for the British Royal Family?”
Meghan came bottom on a list of royal engagements carried out in 2020, whilst Princess Anne – who is often deemed the hardest working royal – came out top.
It emerged that, during her time off following the birth of Prince Louis in 2018, the Princess of Wales had carried out 42 engagements that year – whilst Meghan only took on three more than Kate – with her total at 45 for 2018.
At the time the magazine’s then-editor-in-chief Edward Enninful – who is said to no longer be on speaking terms wth Meghan – spoke of the Duchess of Sussex’s decision to leave herself off the cover.
He said: “From the very beginning, we talked about the cover – whether she would be on it or not.
“In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a ‘boastful’ thing to do for this particular project.
“She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires.”