Vanity Fair’s damning dissection of the Sussexes’ five years in America may have its roots in a row that allegedly began with Meghan’s 2017 cover story in which she officially announced to the world that she was “in love” with Harry.
In a wild takedown published last week, titled “American Hustle,” editor Anna Peele spoke to “dozens” of sources linked to the duo who called the Sussexes “the most entitled and disingenuous people in the world.” planet.”
But why did the once pro-Sussex publication turn against Meghan and Harry? It appears the relationship soured when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly accused Vanity Fair of publishing a “racist headline” on Meghan’s cover in October 2017.
It was unlikely that Meghan would have graced the cover of the celebrity bible because of her role in Suits, but when the magazine scored a major coup by landing the first interview with Prince Harry’s girlfriend, it naturally caused a stir .
However, according to Valentine Low’s book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Meghan was unhappy that, although it was a positive article, the story focused on her relationship with Harry.
She also reportedly complained that the cover line was racist and the couple attempted to change the title of the digital edition.
Perhaps this cooling of relations between Meghan and the publication laid the groundwork for the latest explosive article, which claimed that some people who worked with Meghan ended up needing therapy and that she would not have had the idea for his Spotify podcast, Archetypes. .
The article also noted that the Duchess of Sussex can be “really, really horrible” when things don’t go her way.
Over the past few days, numerous allegations regarding Harry and Meghan have come to light after Vanity Fair published a damning profile on the couple (photo from August 2024).
According to the Times, the couple have rejected the allegations, with sources close to the Sussexes calling them “distressing.”
Meghan’s first foray with Vanity Fair began in the summer of 2017, when Meghan wanted a new PR team to help her in the United States.
She hired public relations consultant Keleigh Thomas Morgan of New York agency Sunshine Sachs, whose clients include Hollywood stars Salma Hayek, Jane Fonda and Natalie Portman.
The New York-based agency had advised Meghan since her acting days on legal drama Suits, before dropping them in 2022.
Meghan agreed to do an issue with Vanity Fair in the fall, which Kensington Palace approved but said Keleigh could settle negotiations.
A glamorous close-up of the Suits actress appeared on the magazine’s cover, showcasing her luscious curls and fair, freckled skin, accompanied by the headline proclaiming “She’s just crazy about Harry.”
The story quoted Meghan speaking openly about her romance with the prince, saying: “We are in love. This (time) is for us.
“That’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s uniquely ours.” But we are happy. Personally, I like great love stories.
It appears the pair’s relationship soured after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly accused Vanity Fair of publishing a “racist headline” in its cover story in October 2017.
The couple accused the magazine’s cover of racism because of a 1939 blackface song by Micky Rooney and Judy Garland called “I’m Just Wild About Harry.”
Meghan hired public relations consultant Keleigh Thomas Morgan, and the two reportedly had a rocky relationship in 2017.
But the Duchess of Sussex was reportedly “unhappy” with Keleigh and didn’t like the cover story, according to royal author Valentine Low.
A source was quoted as saying: “She was very unhappy with the way it was handled. And she sought to place blame in every direction possible, even if it had been a positive thing.
“She didn’t like the photos. She thought the story was negative. She was upset because it was about Harry, not her.
Harry and Meghan also reportedly thought the title was racist and pointed out that the song “I’m Just Wild About Harry” was performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney as a blackface number in the 1939 film Babes In Arms .
“They (Harry and Meghan) tried to change it online, because they thought it was racially motivated,” the source said. “(Meghan) was so angry with Keleigh that she wanted to fire her.”
And while things cooled down quickly between Meghan and Keleigh, there was a time when her PR advisor was at odds with the former Deal or No Deal briefcase model.
Meghan was also described as acting “like a teenager from Mean Girls” in the article published Friday.
She was said to be “warm and expansive” towards employees at first before becoming “cold and withholding towards the person she perceived to be in charge” when something “went wrong, often because of Meghan and Harry’s own demands”.
A source who has worked on media projects told the publication: “She’s constantly playing checkers – I’m not even going to say chess – but she’s very aware of everyone’s position on her board.
“And if you’re not there, you must be thrown to the wolves at any time,” which they said meant “undermining” the behavior, adding: “That’s talking behind your back.” It eats away at your self-esteem. Really, like a teenager from Mean Girls.
However, producer Jane Marie, who worked with the couple during the development of Archewell’s audio projects, insisted to Vanity Fair that Meghan was “just a lovely, genuine person.”
Elsewhere, the profile details allegations from Meghan’s former employees who allegedly felt mistreated during their work with her.
The claims, which echo accusations from her time at Kensington Palace, paint a disturbing picture of a woman whose behavior allegedly left staff “seeking therapy” and led to allegations of “harassment” behind the scenes. These allegations were vehemently denied by Meghan and Harry’s representatives at the time.
Meghan was also described as acting “like a teenager from Mean Girls” in the article published Friday.
Despite the allegations made in the profile, staff loyal to Meghan and Harry have previously defended the couple to US Weekly magazine, describing the Sussexes as “caring” bosses who give employees their children’s old baby clothes, flowers fresh and “care packages”.
Josh Kettler, Harry’s chief of staff who left after just three months in August last year, insisted he had been “warmly welcomed” by the couple and described them as “dedicated and hardworking” .
Ben Browning, Archewell’s former head of content – who was responsible for their tell-all documentary at Netflix but then left before his contract was up – says his experience at the company and with Meghan and Harry in general “was positive and supportive”.
Their PR manager, “global press secretary” Ashley Hansen, who is leaving the company to start her own business, says they treated her with “the kind of concern and care that a parent would express if it was her own child” when she took time. to have surgery, adding that they also sent flowers and gifts.
The positive comments follow a negative article published in the Hollywood Reporter, in which Meghan was described as a “dictator in high heels.”
Tom Bower, the royal author and investigative journalist, called the recent revelations “devastating” for Meghan, particularly given her recent attempts to reshape her public persona as a warm, loving mother and wife.
‘After strongly denying accusations that she harassed her staff at Kensington Palace, the revival of her image as a difficult duchess is a disaster on the eve of the launch of Netflix“With love, Meghan.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are pictured at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in 2022
“After investing so much in redefining herself as a loving and caring California mother and wife, the VF revelations have poisoned the smiling image of the welcoming housewife.
Prince Harry is also facing increasing scrutiny, with experts noting his portrayal in the Vanity Fair article as “lost, overwhelmed and naive.”
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, warned that the couple’s reputation in the United States could be seriously damaged.
“Harry is portrayed as lost, overwhelmed and naive. Neither, according to the article, seem to understand what a successful career in show business actually entails.
According to Fitzwilliams, the couple’s attempts to project a philanthropic and caring image by notably helping victims of the California wildfires are unlikely to gain traction in light of the ongoing allegations.
“The Sussexes are trying to project a caring image by helping some of those affected by the cataclysmic wildfires currently ravaging California. They won’t get far once publicity is given to this.
“Her With Love, Meghan’s cooking series is, judging by the trailer, saccharine and silly. This has been postponed and is now scheduled for release on March 4, but a less-than-enthusiastic reaction online could cause the streaming giant to think twice and drop it and, when its contract expires later in the year, to keep very little, if at all.
“The Sussexes have made numerous accusations against the royal family. They, especially Meghan, now have a lot to answer for. Nobody likes bullies, especially skilled bullies!’
He continued: “It says a lot that the Sussexes were not available for an interview. This is an in-depth and balanced article that has been informed by interviews with admirers and detractors of the Sussexes.
“It also shows that they are now completely outdated in showbiz. They are also far from being admired by their neighbors in Montecito. They left Britain to escape press attention.
“Yet in the United States they want favorable press. The article concludes that there isn’t much going for them, with Harry wanting to reconnect with his family. I fear this is unlikely to happen while he is with Meghan.