Meghan Markle shares never-before-seen video to celebrate 'fastest-selling' issue of British Vogue

Meghan Markle’s guest-edited issue of British Vogue was the fastest-selling issue in the magazine’s history, editor-in-chief Edward Enninful has revealed.

For the magazine’s 2019 September issue, titled “Forces for Change,” Meghan used the opportunity to highlight the work of influential female trailblazers, including Greta Thunberg, Michelle Obama, and Jane Fonda.

Featured on the cover were 15 women “from all walks of life, each driving impact and raising the bar for equality, kindness, justice and open-mindedness,” Meghan explained on Instagram at the time. The cover also included a 16th mirrored space “so that when you hold the issue in your hands, you see yourself as part of this collective”.

On Thursday, Enninful said that the issue was so popular it sold out in 10 days and that it was also the magazine’s "biggest-selling issue of the past decade".

“I’m thrilled to report that newsstand sales of British Vogue are up in the second half of 2019, but the real highlight for me is the performance of our September 2019 issue,” the editor-in-chief captioned a photo of the issue on Instagram. “#ForcesforChange, guest-edited by the Duchess of Sussex was our fastest-selling issue in the history of British Vogue (sold out in 10 days) and the biggest-selling issue of the past decade.

“I can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store.”

Following the announcement, the official Sussex Instagram shared a never-before-seen video of Meghan and Enninful working together on the issue.

In the clip, which was filmed last August in London, Enninful recalls receiving a text from Meghan inviting him for tea to discuss her clothing collection Smart Works. During the visit, the former actress then asked if he would "be willing to let me guest edit".

Explaining that she didn't know if anyone had ever guest-edited the magazine before, Enninful responds: "No. In the history of Vogue, you're the first. You have an editor's eye. I mean, I've never seen anything like it.

"You were so thorough from beginning to end."

According to Meghan, she "did leave the fashion stuff to the professionals," however, after asking if the issue could focus on "Commonwealth fashion" and "sustainability".

"You wanted to focus on women who are changing the world, women who are doing incredible things," the editor-in-chief said, as the Duchess of Sussex agreed. "Which is really in line with what we do at British Vogue."

Meghan then touched on the importance of including the mirror on the cover, telling Enninful: "Anyone, no matter who they are, picking up this issue, should be able to see themself in it, and that's what I feel really proud that we've accomplished."

The video also captures the initial phone conversations Enninful and the duchess had with the women chosen for the cover.

"What a f***ing great project," Adwoa Aboah says in response, while Fonda is heard responding: "Meghan, I'm so proud of you for using your amazing platform and your strong voice, and I'm so honoured to be a part of it with all those other amazing women."

The Sussex Royal Instagram captioned the video, in part: "Congratulations to all of those who took part in the 2019 September issue, and huge thanks to those who supported and helped make this a success!"

While Enninful did not share the exact figures, British Vogue’s latest print circulation is 192,000 and its readership is 861,000, according to its publisher Condé Nast.

In response to the accomplishment, readers have congratulated both Enninful and the Duchess of Sussex, who no longer uses her HRH title after she and husband Prince Harry announced in January that they would be stepping back from their senior roles in the royal family.

“So Edward Enniful has confirmed that Meghan’s issue of Vogue was the fastest-selling in the magazine’s history,” one person wrote on Twitter. “Eat it up, bigots.”

Another said: “Congratulations! This was my first-ever British Vogue. I bought it because of Meghan. I’m so proud.”