(Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Chloe Malle, the new editorial content chief at American Vogue, is already sparking speculation about a fresh chapter with the Duchess of Sussex. Malle, who recently stepped into Anna Wintour’s shoes, followed Meghan on Instagram within her first week in the role, a move royal watchers say signals a very different tone to what came before.
Wintour and Meghan were rumoured to have had a frosty relationship. In 2022, reports suggested Wintour blocked the Duchess from gracing the magazine’s all-important September issue. According to fashion insiders, the clash centred on Meghan’s team wanting editorial control over how her charitable work would be portrayed, something Wintour was said to have resisted firmly.
It’s a striking contrast with Meghan’s earlier success at British Vogue, where she guest-edited the September 2019 edition titled “Forces for Change”. That issue, which featured women from across activism, politics, and the arts, sold out quickly and drew plenty of praise. Yet despite that accomplishment, Meghan herself has never been given a Vogue cover.
Chloe Malle Reaches Out to Meghan Markle After Anna Wintour Rift (Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images file)
Malle’s decision to connect with Meghan on social media is being seen as more than just a casual follow. In an industry where every move is carefully watched, it could hint at a thaw in relations and even the possibility of collaborations that never materialised under Wintour’s leadership.
Meghan Markle May Finally Get Her Vogue Moment as New Editor Signals Fresh Start (Getty)
Since moving to California in 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry have steered clear of fashion’s biggest night, the Met Gala, where Vogue holds sway. Their absence from such high-profile events has fuelled whispers about strained ties with the fashion establishment. Malle’s arrival could change that, especially if she wants to reset the magazine’s relationship with two of the most talked-about figures in modern royal history.
What remains to be seen is whether Meghan will finally land the Vogue cover that has so far eluded her, despite her global profile and obvious cultural impact. With Malle at the helm, many believe the door might be opening again.