Enninful signals Meghan Markle no longer on the horizon as he debuts EE72

Edward Enninful has signaled that Meghan Markle is unlikely to appear on the cover of his newly launched publication, EE72, as he resumes work with a magazine platform anchored by online content and four quarterly print issues. In a recent interview, the former Vogue editor described Meghan as having been a powerful collaborator in the past but said, “I feel like I have done it,” when asked whether she would feature on the cover again. He added that he would happily include King Charles and Queen Camilla in the magazine because they “care about the same things I do.”

Enninful’s remarks come as he ramps up publicity for EE72, a fresh creative project he unveiled with a party in London this past Friday. The 53-year-old journalist has illuminated a long-standing network of celebrity friends—Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Campbell among them—as he builds an online platform and four print editions each year. The project marks a new chapter after his celebrated run at Vogue, which included Meghan Markle’s September 2019 guest edit when she was pregnant with Archie. Meghan described herself and Enninful as “like-minded thinkers” who enjoyed “philosophising” over mint tea, and Enninful publicly lauded her as a “bi-racial powerhouse” and an “ultimate force for change” in fashion and media.

The interview also sheds light on the rumors that have swirled around their relationship for years. When asked about Meghan as a potential cover star, Enninful paused before replying that their joint moment with the 2019 issue had been meaningful, but that he “wouldn’t necessarily repeat myself.” The public narrative since then has featured whispers of a drift or rift, with insiders citing a 2022 plan to feature the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s charity work as the flashpoint. According to reporting cited by outlets at the time, Meghan hoped the piece would be a cover story, while Enninful reportedly did not meet those expectations and instead offered an in-depth feature inside the magazine. The project was ultimately shelved, fueling speculation about the strength of their friendship.

The Times interview underscores Enninful’s willingness to engage with the Royal Family as a continuous thread in his broader career. He serves as Global Ambassador for the King’s Trust (formerly the Prince’s Trust) and has recently spoken publicly about his admiration for King Charles and Queen Camilla, saying he would happily feature them in EE72 because they share similar values. He has also been explicit about his intention to keep working with the monarchy in a way that aligns with his editorial priorities, including initiatives around youth opportunity and charitable work. This stance appears at odds with the enduring gossip surrounding Meghan and the former Vogue editor, who remains a central figure in discussions about royal-to-media relationships.

EE72’s launch party in London brought a constellation of stars to the event, a signal that Enninful is leaning into a broader, global audience for his new venture. The platform’s stated aim includes an online component and four annual print editions, positioning EE72 as a hybrid media project that can bridge traditional fashion journalism with digital storytelling and exclusive interviews. The choice of first cover star, in line with the project’s emphasis on high-profile talent, has been the subject of much speculation in fashion and media circles, particularly given the recent absence of Meghan from Enninful’s public-facing projects. Naomi Campbell, who appeared on Enninful’s Vogue cover in March 2024 with a roster of 40 “legendary” women, helped anchor a sense of continuity with Enninful’s broader network, even as Meghan was not part of that particular frame.

The discord between Enninful and Meghan has been the subject of sustained coverage. Reports from May 2024 indicated that their friendship had deteriorated well before Meghan’s final Vogue cover appearance, with sources describing a rift rooted in how Vogue planned to present Meghan and Harry’s charitable work. The plan reportedly involved a comprehensive series spanning print and digital formats tied to Meghan’s keynote at One Young World in Manchester in September 2022, which Condé Nast insiders said was scrapped at the last minute. One source described the fallout as irreparable for the friendship, noting that Enninful had to pivot to a different cover strategy while Meghan’s team sought a broader, more public-facing feature.

Enninful’s profile has long been closely aligned with the royal circle, a relationship that has shaped his career and public persona. He has been acknowledged for his commitment to diversity in fashion and media, earning an OBE in 2016 for services to the industry. His involvement with the King’s Trust and his interviews with the monarch across various platforms reflect a sustained engagement with royal philanthropy and modernizing conversations around how the monarchy intersects with culture and media. In Time Magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 Most Influential People, Enninful wrote about the King’s openness to change and his ability to modernize institutions that often sit at the intersection of tradition and contemporary social issues.

The broader cultural conversation around these developments highlights the dynamic relationship between fashion publishing, celebrity influence, and the evolving media landscape. Enninful’s departure from the traditional magazine cover dynamic, replaced by a multi-platform strategy with EE72, signals a shift toward diversified storytelling and new partnerships in which the line between editor, celebrity, and platform becomes more porous. The absence of Meghan from Enninful’s current lineup—despite their history as collaborators—serves as a notable data point in a larger pattern of high-profile media relationships that can pivot rapidly under changing editorial ambitions and personal trajectories.

As EE72 moves from launch to ongoing publication, observers will watch how the publication navigates its roster of high-profile contributors and whether its editorial stance will alter perceptions of the fashion world’s relationship with celebrity advocacy and charitable work. For Meghan Markle, the question remains whether future collaborations could re-emerge under different conditions, or whether Enninful’s current stance signals a more permanent recalibration of their professional ties. In the meantime, Enninful’s public statements—highlighting shared values with the King and Queen and signaling a closed door on Meghan—frame EE72 as a distinct project with a broader, royalty-adjacent cultural footprint.