Meghan Markle has been handed a lifeline after Chloe Malle, American Vogue's new editorial content chief, signalled a potential shift in relations between the Duchess of Sussex and the fashion publication.
Ms Malle, 39, succeeded the legendary Anna Wintour as editor-in-chief this week and has already suggested a different approach to the Sussexes than her predecessor.
Amid the fanfare of her first week in the prestigious role, eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed that Ms Malle had followed Meghan on Instagram.
While no direct public contact has been made, the gesture marks a clear departure from the reportedly strained relationship between the Duchess and Ms Wintour.
Chloe Malle, the new Vogue US editor, has handed Meghan Markle a lifeline by following her on Instagram
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Meghan and the former editor are believed to have clashed, with Ms Wintour allegedly blocking the Duchess from appearing on the magazine's prestigious September 2022 edition.
The then-editor, who helmed American Vogue for nearly four decades, reportedly intervened when disagreements arose over editorial decisions.
According to fashion industry sources, tensions arose in 2022 when the Duchess's representatives allegedly sought to exert specific control over coverage planned for Vogue's September issue.
The feature was intended to highlight Meghan's charitable work and coincide with her appearance at the Manchester summit that September.
The gesture could signal a new relationship between Meghan and the magazine
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Insiders claimed the Duchess's team insisted on particular headlines and pushed for cover placement, prompting Ms Wintour's intervention.
"Anna was p***** off. Anna was like frustrated with all the micromanaging, and just was like, 'All right. That's it. She can't have the cover and we're not doing the story'," a source told the Daily Mail.
The entire project was subsequently cancelled.
The abandoned Vogue feature is also thought to have strained Meghan’s relationship with Edward Enninful, who was editing British Vogue at the time.
Meghan was believed to have split from Vogue's legendary former editor, Anna Wintour, on bad terms
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Fashion insiders suggested the pair's friendship deteriorated after the project's cancellation, with one source noting: "Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast."
The planned coverage would have required substantial resources, including photographers, videographers and stylists for exclusive content with the Sussexes.
Their once-close relationship reportedly dwindled to sporadic communication, the Mail reported.
Despite guest-editing British Vogue's September 2019 Forces for Change edition, the Duchess has never appeared on a Vogue cover.
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Ms WIntour allegedly pulled the Duchess form appearing on the September 2022 edition over a disagreement
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The couple have also been notably absent from the Met Gala since moving to America in 2020.
Sources suggested Meghan's team had "high expectations" for the 2022 feature, whilst the Duchess herself remained "relaxed with no expectations".
Ms Malle, the daughter of actress Candice Bergen and filmmaker Louis Malle, joined Vogue in 2011 and previously headed Vogue.com before her recent promotion.