Meghan Markle genuinely believed she landed that glossy Vanity Fair cover in 2017 because of her “world-changing” charity work—not because she was dating Prince Harry. But Graydon Carter, the magazine’s former bigwig, just dropped a truth bomb with Page Six that’s got everyone talking. Spoiler: her self-made myth doesn’t hold up.
Let’s rewind to 2017. Meghan, then a C-list Suits actress (sixth on the call sheet, mind you), scored a coveted Vanity Fair feature. How’d it happen? Carter says it started with Jane Sarkin, the cover-booker extraordinaire. When she pitched Meghan, Carter’s reaction was a blank, “I have no idea what that is.” Sarkin’s quick follow-up? “She’s going to marry Prince Harry.” Boom—cover secured. Not for her acting chops, not for her “philanthropy,” but for snagging a royal boyfriend. Pretty cut-and-dry, right? Not in Meghan’s world.
Cue the interview drama. Meghan reportedly cornered the reporter, miffed, asking, “Excuse me, is this all going to be about Prince Harry? I thought we’d focus on my charities and philanthropy.” Carter couldn’t help but smirk at that one. He called her “slightly adrift” on reality—translation: totally delusional. The mag ran it as “Meghan Markle: Wild About Harry” because, let’s face it, that’s what sold. Her charity gig? Barely a blip on anyone’s radar.
Here’s the harsh truth: Vanity Fair covers don’t go to do-gooders. They’re for A-listers, fashion legends, or power players with real clout. Charity’s just the sprinkles on top—if that. Before Harry, Meghan wasn’t exactly a household name. Suits was her biggest claim to fame, and her “philanthropy”? Mostly staged photo ops with kids in far-off places, paired with a wardrobe rotation that screamed personal fashion show.
Carter, who rubbed elbows with Princess Diana back in the day, didn’t hold back on the bigger picture either. He reckons Diana would’ve been gutted to see Harry drift from his dad and brother—a rift where Meghan’s undeniably center stage. Family feuds are messy, and she’s been the spark, whether she admits it or not. Self-reflection’s not her strong suit—she’d rather play the misunderstood victim.
What stings most? Carter’s no tabloid hack. He’s a heavyweight, a journalism titan who ran Vanity Fair for decades. When someone like him calls you out, it’s not just gossip—it’s a reputation gut punch. It’s a sign the media and elite circles don’t care about burning bridges with Meghan anymore. Why? She’s got no leverage left.
So, Meghan thought her Vanity Fair moment was a philanthropy flex. Graydon Carter—and pretty much everyone else—knows it was all Harry. No matter how hard she tries to rewrite the story, she’s still just a royal sidekick in the end.
