Meghan Markle refused to appear on the Vogue September cover like Kate Middleton did over fears she’d look ‘boastful’, Edward Enninful reveals

MEGHAN Markle has guest edited the September issue of Vogue – but left herself off the cover over fears she’d look “boastful”.

She chose to instead focus on 15 women who “break barriers” and the duchess hoped that readers would also be inspired by their work.

The magazine's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful spoke of the Duchess of Sussex’s decision to leave herself off the cover – unlike Kate Middleton, 37, when she appeared in the magazine in June 2016.

He said: “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."

Kate, Duchess Of Cambridge, starred on the cover of Vogue as part of a National Portrait Gallery Vogue exhibition for its centenary edition.

Princess Diana featured on the cover three times, and Princess Anne also appeared in September 1971, May 1973 and November 1973.

The cover instead features the likes of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern.

Inside there is also a conversation between Meghan Markle, 37, and former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

One of the 16 photo slots on the front cover is that of a mirror, which encourages the reader to use their own platform for change.

The edition is entitled Forces For Change, and Buckingham Palace said this highlights "trailblazing change makers, united by their fearlessness in breaking barriers".

New mum Meghan Markle, who gave birth to Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on May 6, has spent seven months working on the special Vogue project.

She hopes "to take the year's most-read fashion issue and steer its focus to the values, causes and people making impact in the world today".

The duchess said: "Through this lens I hope you'll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light.

"I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the forces for change they'll find within these pages."

Edward said that Meghan is the first person to guest edit the September issue – which is considered the magazine’s most important issue of the year.

He said: "To have the country's most influential beacon of change guest edit British Vogue at this time has been an honour, a pleasure and a wonderful surprise.

"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."

Some have criticised Meghan for placing left-wing, Trump-hating celebs on the Vogue cover. 

This comes after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s neighbours were issued with list banning them from talking to royals or asking to see baby Archie.