Meghan Markle, Judy Garland and THAT 2017 Vanity Fair cover Duchess dubbed 'racially motivated'

Meghan was ecstatic to feature in the magazine but was left furious when it was published

UPDATED OCT 1, 2022

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tried to change the cover story headline (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELOS, CALIFORNIA: In 2017, Vanity Fair featured Meghan Markle as their cover model; but the Duchess of Sussex, who was "ecstatic" to feature in the magazine, was left furious when it was published. Meghan was enraged that the magazine had chosen to announce her relationship with Prince Harry, and also claimed the cover featuring her face was "racially motivated", a bombshell book claims.

The October 2017 issue’s front-page headline, 'She’s Just Wild About Harry!' -- also the name of a blackface number that Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney performed in the 1939 film 'Babes in Arms,' didn't sit well with the Sussexes, according to an excerpt of Valentine Low’s new book, 'Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown'. Harry and Meghan even "tried to get it changed online because (they thought) it had been racially motivated," according to excerpts from the new book as reported by Daily Mail.

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(IMDB) — The October 2017 issue’s front-page headline of Vanity Fair, 'She’s Just Wild About Harry!' a blackface number performed in the 1939 film 'Babes in Arms' (Credit: Vanity Fair/IMDB)

Meghan was reportedly euphoric to feature in the Vanity Fair cover, but when the issue was released she was outraged with the headline, and wanted to fire her newly hired public relations advisor, Keleigh Thomas Morgan of Sunshine Sachs. “She did not like the photographs. She thought the story was negative,” the source said. Meghan had convinced Harry the article would focus on the celebration of the 100th episode of 'Suits', the TV show she was filming in Toronto and where the interview was conducted. Meghan was under strict orders to steer clear of topics deemed sensitive, such as politics, race and her relationship with the prince, claims another excerpt from the book, The Times reported.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 18: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at the United Nations Headquarters on July 18, 2022 in New York City. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex is the keynote speaker during the United Nations General assembly to mark the observance of Nelson Mandela International Day where the 2020 U.N. Nelson Mandela Prize will be awarded to Mrs. Marianna Vardinogiannis of Greece and Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté of Guinea. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) — Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at the United Nations Headquarters on July 18, 2022 in New York City (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, the magazine chose to focus on her relationship with the Duke of Sussex rather than on her acting career and philanthropic efforts. Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner confessed he had never heard of Meghan's TV show and directly asked her about her relationship to Harry. “We’re a couple. We’re in love,” she responded. Meghan further added, “I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time,” she said in the article. Prince Harry and Meghan's engagement was officially announced one month after the issue in November 2017.