Meghan Markle is a person ‘adrift on facts and reality’, the former editor of Vanity Fair said today.
Canadian journalist and author Graydon Carter, 75, who ran the society bible for 25 years, has revealed that the Duchess of Sussex made a baffling complaint when he made her the magazine’s cover star in October 2017.
Meghan, who had recently started dating Prince Harry and was still playing Rachel Zane on Suits, thought Vanity Fair should be more interested in her ‘charity work and philanthropy’.
‘This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality’, Mr Carter has said.
Meghan was the star of one of Mr Carter’s final editions as editor of Vanity Fair, in October 2017, which was entitled: ‘She’s just wild about Harry’.
He has admitted that he initially had ‘no idea’ who Meghan was when one of his team suggested her for the cover, asking them initially: ‘Why should we do a story on her?’. His colleague swiftly replied: ‘Because she’s going to marry Prince Harry’.
But when a Vanity Fair reporter interviewed Meghan she apparently snapped: ‘Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy’.
Weeks after the interview was published, in November 2017, Meghan’s engagement to Prince Harry was announced in a statement released by his father. By early 2020 the couple had stepped down as working royals and emigrated to California.
Mr Carter, who was friendly with Princess Diana, has claimed that Harry’s mother ‘would feel great sorrow’ that her youngest son is estranged from Prince William and King Charles.
‘Anytime someone comes between siblings that’s a disaster – horrible for a family’, he said.
Vanity Fair’s ex-editor claims duchess believed she was magazine’s 2017 cover star (pictured) because of her ‘charity work’ and not because she was dating Prince Harry
Graydon Carter (left) and Harry’s mother in 1994. She is wearing her famous ‘revenge dress’ in retaliation to the TV admission on a Dimbleby documentary by her then husband, Prince Charles, that he had an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles
When a Vanity Fair reporter asked about her future husband, Meghan apparently declared: ‘Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy’
Toronto-born Mr Carter has enjoyed a long career in journalism. He co-founded the satirical monthly magazine Spy in 1986.
From 1992 to 2017 he edited Vanity Fair.
Under his stewardship, the magazine became famous for its mix of celebrity stories and serious journalism. In 2019 he launched Air Mail – an online newsletter featuring the best of arts, culture, TV and film from around the world.
His new memoir, ‘When the Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines’, is released tomorrow in the US and on Thursday in the UK.
He has given a wide-ranging interview with the New York Post’s Page Six, where he has spoken about his career, Tom Cruise, Harvey Weinstein, launching Vanity Fair’s now famous Oscars party and the Duchess of Sussex.
Describing how Meghan became a cover star, he said: ‘Jane Sarkin, who booked our covers, came in and said: “We should do a cover on Meghan Markle”.
‘I said, “I have no idea who that is”.
‘She said: “She’s on Suits”.
‘I said: “I have no idea what that is, why should we do a story on her?” So she said: “Because she’s going to marry Prince Harry”.’
He then apparently laughed as he recalled how Meghan then challenged one of his reporters when she asked about her now husband.
Mr Carter claimed Meghan said: ‘Excuse me, Is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy’.
According to Page Six, Mr Carter raised his eyebrows as he recalled the story and said: ‘This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality’.
The journalist said Princess Diana would be very sad to see the wedge between Harry and his British family.
Mr Carter was the co-host of the 1994 party at the Serpentine Gallery where Princess Diana wore her famous ‘revenge dress’ in retaliation to the TV admission that her husband, Prince Charles, had an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles.
Speaking about how she would view Harry’s isolation in California, he said: ‘I would think she [Diana] would feel great sorrow for her son to have been pulled away from his family like this, especially his brother but also his father’.
It is not the first time Mr Carter has criticised Meghan.
In 2023 he predicted that her marriage to Prince Harry will last ‘years rather than decades.’
He said he believes the Duchess of Sussex, who wed the Duke in 2018, ‘has run rings around poor Harry to get money, notoriety and a title.’
Since their royal nuptials in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2018, the Sussexes have stepped back from their duties in the royal family, moved to California, and had two children.
He said two years ago: ‘I would measure the duration of the marriage in years rather than decades.
‘I think she has run rings around poor Harry and gotten what she wanted: notoriety, money, and a title. His usefulness to her diminishes daily.’
Mr Carter said that he did not think Markle would make an acting come back – but did say: ‘If there is a Real Housewives of Montecito show in the works, she’d be a shoo-in.’
Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, pictured above in 2017, criticised the Duchess of Sussex as ‘adrift from reality’ in a new interview
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their wedding in May 2018. Graydon thinks the couple’s marriage will be measured in ‘years, not decades’
There also appears to be a growing rivalry with a near neighbour: Gwyneth Paltrow.
Yesterday, Meghan fired back at Gwyneth in their so-called breakfast war as she unveiled her ‘re-invented banana split’ with no motivational message to soften the blow.
Over the weekend fans went wild with speculation after Ms Paltrow, 52, posted an Instagram video of herself making breakfast in which she appeared to be subtly put the Duchess of Sussex, 43, in her place.
The post came hot on the heels of the Duchess’s latest attempt at getting back on TV with her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, which was met with negative reviews when it started streaming on Netflix last month.
Some viewers suggested Ms Paltrow’s laid back look, crumpled pyjamas and simple, silent cooking demonstration were chosen to contrast with Meghan’s flawless make-up, designer clothes and rented kitchen. Other clues include the music playing behind Ms Paltrow’s video – This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole – which was used in promos by Meghan.
The Duchess appeared to retaliate when she posted two videos to her Instagram story with her ‘bestie’ Kelly McKee Zajfen.
Meghan stood behind the camera giggling as Ms Zajfen carefully placed blueberries, raspberries and granola on top of a yogurt and jam covered banana.
The Duchess made sure to tag her own preserve brand As Ever with a caption reading: ‘When one of your besties reinvents a banana split for breakfast.’
In the next clip, Meghan and her pal cheers their forks before trying the re-imagined banana split, both letting out an ‘Mm!’ as Ms Zajfen said it tasted ‘so good’.
Yesterday, the Duchess appeared to retaliate when she posted two videos to her Instagram story with her ‘bestie’ Kelly McKee Zajfen
The Duchess made sure to tag her own preserve brand As Ever with a caption reading: ‘When one of your besties reinvents a banana split for breakfast’
Fans believe when Ms Paltrow, 52, posted an Instagram video of how she makes breakfast, she may have been subtly putting the Duchess of Sussex in her place
She also posted another video, taken by Prince Harry, a few hours later showing a flock of birds flying across the sky in a V-formation with a gushing caption which read: ‘Flying into the week with my family. (Thanks H for capturing this!)’.
It’s unclear whether or not Meghan’s posts were a retaliation but fans are convinced Ms Paltrow was throwing ‘shade’ at her – slang which means to make fun of someone in an underhanded way.
After seeings Meghan’s banana split video, one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: ‘Omg! Meghan & Kelly try to throw shade back at Gwyneth Paltrow! This is a game they are going to lose.’
Fans also made posts after Ms Paltrows video, with one writing on X: ”Gwyneth Paltrow continues to throw shade & I’m here for it! No make-up in her actual kitchen!’
Another said: ‘Even the music… that’s Natalie Cole ‘this will be (an EVER lasting love)’!!!!!’
A third posted: ‘Lol isn’t it this the song they keep using in the Meghan Markle promo?’
‘And being as relatable as she can be, in her pjs, hair not styled, no make-up sipping coffee. No one praising her. Just her phone filming. Simple and easy.’
The post came hot on the heels of the duchess’s latest TV series, With Love, Meghan, which began streaming on Netflix last month to a chorus of negative criticism
Some viewers suggested Ms Paltrow’s unmade-up look, rumpled PJs and simple, speech-free cooking demonstration were chosen to contrast with Meghan’s flawless make-up, designer clothes and rented kitchen
One fan added: ‘Go Gwyneth… a real dog in her own real kitchen on her own real property.’
Meghan did not film her series – which has been renewed for a second season – at the home in Montecito, California she shares with Prince Harry and their children, instead hiring a £6.2million farmhouse.
Other comments highlighted Ms Paltrow’s monogrammed mug, speculating it could be a reference to Meghan’s monogram as Duchess of Sussex. One said: ‘Notice the lettering on the cup?!!’
Last week, Ms Paltrow and fitness guru Tracy Anderson were accused of mocking Meghan. Making a recipe in a video on Goop’s Instagram page, Ms Anderson said: ‘I’m Tracy Anderson, and welcome to my actual kitchen’ – pausing for effect.
She later insisted: ‘Absolutely no shade intended!’ A day earlier, Ms Paltrow said Meghan seemed ‘lovely’, adding: ‘Maybe I’ll try to get through their security detail and bring them a pie.’
It came after Netflix boss Ted Sarandos broke his silence on Meghan Markle‘s future and appeared to back her despite the poor reception to her eight-part lifestyle series.
But fellow Netflix stars have been mocking the series, while the Duchess of Sussex has become a punching bag for some comedians.
During NBC’s The Tonight Show last Monday, Jimmy Fallon’s sidekick Steve Higgins asked the host the ‘number one question that mystifies scientists.’
Answering his own question, he said: ‘Why does Meghan Markle make her own pretzel bags? They don’t know why.’
They were referring to a moment in the show where the duchess transfers pre-packaged pretzels into another bag with a personalized label on to show visiting guests that she is thinking of them.
Despite being mocked, the series has been renewed for a second season, with Mr Sarandos insisting the Duchess has been ‘underestimated.’
Since the couple signed the mega deal with Netflix in 2020, there has been one smash hit and three relative duds.
With Love, Meghan was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix since its release on March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV.
Meghan was mocked for transfering pre-packaged pretzels into another bag with a personalised label on to show her guests she is thinking of them
The show sees the duchess trying to promote herself in a new way as a ‘domestic goddess’, baking cakes, arranging flowers and slipping into a beekeeper’s suit to collect honey.
She shared a number of recipes throughout the series, including for spaghetti, a honey and lemon cake and a cooked breakfast.
Meghan said her new show had helped her to ‘find herself’ again.
But despite her huge two-million-strong following on social media, she insisted she instead saw as a ‘female founder’ and ‘entrepreneur’ rather than an influencer.
By comparison, the biographical ‘Harry & Meghan’ was the streaming service’s biggest documentary debut, viewed in almost 29 million households in its first four days, and proved a global sensation.
But Polo, a sports docuseries, Live to Lead – which focused on ‘global justice activists’ – and Heart of Invictus, about Harry’s games for wounded soldiers, proved lacklustre additions that failed to set the streaming service’s viewing figures ablaze.
