Some fans wondered about the decision to leave out their children, who are rarely seen in public, while others accused them of being self-centered and attention-seeking. Some even mocked them for using an older photo from November rather than a more recent one. However, the most surprising snub came from Vogue magazine, which removed the Sussexes' holiday card from their website and replaced it with Kate Middleton as the front page cover star.
The Duchess of Cambridge graced the cover of Vogue's January 2023 issue, elegantly dressed in a red gown and tiara. The magazine praised her as the embodiment of grace, elegance, and style, highlighting her role as a pillar of strength for the royal family and the nation. Many perceived Vogue's decision to remove Harry and Meghan's card from their website as a deliberate slight, especially considering the longstanding tensions between the former Royals and the magazine.
In 2019, Meghan became the first guest editor of Vogue's September issue, featuring 15 women she admired. However, the issue faced criticism for being overly political, preachy, and self-indulgent. Some of the women Meghan chose, including activist Greta Thunberg and actress Jameela Jamil, were also controversial figures who had clashed with the royal family or the British public.
Edward Enninful, Vogue's editor-in-chief and a close friend of Meghan, defended the issue, calling it a brave endeavor. He asserted that Meghan was the most misunderstood woman in the world and had faced unfair treatment from the media and the public. He hoped the issue would change the conversation and reveal her true self. However, it appears that Vogue's readers did not share Enninful's admiration, as the issue reportedly sold less than half the expected number of copies.
According to The Sun, the issue only sold 120,000 copies, significantly lower than the average of 190,000 copies for a September issue. This marked it as the worst-selling issue in the magazine's history. Vogue's snub of Meghan Markle not only reflects the magazine's preference for Kate Middleton but also mirrors the public sentiment toward the Sussexes.
A recent poll by YouGov revealed a steep decline in Harry and Meghan's popularity ratings in the UK, with only 27% of Britons having a positive opinion of Harry and 24% of Meghan. In contrast, Kate Middleton enjoys a 76% approval rating, making her the most popular Royal after the Queen. Vogue's snub underscores that Meghan Markle continues to face challenges, having distanced herself from the royal family, the media, and the public. She has become a figure often criticized and ridiculed, highlighting the difficulties she encounters, no matter her efforts. While she may have hoped that her holiday card would portray a different image, it seems to have reinforced the existing perception of her as self-obsessed, fame-hungry, and ungrateful, making her a polarizing figure in the world.
