Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is adding a new title to her long list of accomplishments: Vogue editor. She is the very first guest editor of British Vogue’s September issue, which is the most important of the year. The magazine and the palace simultaneously publicized the news on social media on Sunday evening (July 28).

The announcement was disclosed via Instagram postings by both the magazine and Markle and Prince Harry’s official accounts, which revealed the issue’s title as “Forces for Change.”
Greta Thunberg, a student activist for climate change, Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and actress-turned-campaigner Jane Fonda are among 15 prominent female personalities slated to feature on the magazine’s cover.

A discussion between Meghan and Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States, will be included in the September edition.

In an Instagram post featuring the issue cover, British Vogue said, “Introducing the September 2019 issue of #BritishVogue, guest-edited by HRH The Duchess of Sussex @SussexRoyal.” The cover, themed #ForcesForChange, includes 15 world-leading women who are changing public life for the greater good, and was hand-picked by The Duchess of Sussex and British Vogue editor-in-chief @Edward Enninful.

The duchess has been curating material alongside British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful for the last seven months to produce an issue that emphasizes the power of the community, according to the royals’ statement.

Meghan, however, will not appear on the cover because she believes it would be “boastful” to feature her picture, according to British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, and instead will highlight women who inspire her.

The description accompanying @sussexroyal’s Instagram announcement says, “The sixteenth space on the cover, a mirror, was included so that when you hold the issue in your hands, you see yourself as part of this collective.”

An interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama and a discussion between Markle and Dr. Jane Goodall, as well as pieces by Brené Brown and Jameela Jamil, are included in the issue.

Other personalities included in the September edition include actresses Salma Hayek Pinault and Jameela Jamil, boxer Ramla Ali, and writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The magazine will also include an interview between Meghan’s husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and anthropologist Jane Goodall.

Another image of Markle, who seems to be hard at work on the issue, was also shared by the royal family (and also very chic in her tweed Gucci dress).

“For the cover, the Duchess chose a diverse selection of women from all walks of life, each driving impact and raising the bar for equality, kindness, justice and open mindedness. ”

Markle is the magazine’s first guest editor of the crucial September edition in its 103-year existence, according to British Vogue.

In an Instagram post, Markle wrote, “Guest editing the September issue of British Vogue has been rewarding, educational and inspiring.” “To deep dive into this process, working quietly behind the scenes for so many months, I am happy to now be able to share what we have created.”

According to a statement issued by the royal family, the group is made up of “trailblazing changemakers” who are “united by their fearlessness in breaking barriers.” The issue will be available on newsstands on Friday, August 2, and the royal couple shared a promotional video on their Instagram page on Monday, showcasing many of the cover stars during photo sessions.

Enninful stated in a blog post on British Vogue’s website that she had a discussion with Markle about being on the cover, but she finally decided she didn’t want to be.

“As you will see from her selections throughout this magazine, she is also willing to wade into more complex and nuanced areas, whether they concern female empowerment, mental health, race or privilege,” Enninful added. “From the very beginning, we talked about the cover — whether she would be on it or not. In the end, she felt that it would be in some ways a ‘boastful’ thing to do for this particular project. She wanted, instead, to focus on the women she admires.”