Anna Wintour’s Met Gala Dream: Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Sans Royal Husbands
Anna Wintour, the iconic Vogue Editor-in-Chief, has always had an eye for the perfect guest list at the Met Gala, fashion’s most spectacular night held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among her “dream” attendees are none other than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, who, despite their royal status, have yet to make an appearance at this star-studded event. In a revelation that adds a twist to royal expectations, Wintour expressed her desire to see these two without their royal counterparts, shared by Daily Record.
The Met Gala, a pinnacle of high fashion and celebrity gathering, has welcomed various British royals over the years, but the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales have notably been absent. In a 2019 interview with Jenna Bush Hager from ‘Today’, just before the Met Gala, Wintour shared her ideal scenario involving the two royal women. “I would love to have the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge [Kate’s then-title prior to becoming the Princess of Wales] together,” Wintour disclosed. “That would be my dream couple.” She humorously added, “They could leave their husbands at home. It’s the two of them I want”, told Mirror.
However, the likelihood of this dream turning into reality seems slim due to the known estrangement between the couples, with no public appearances together since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. The history of British royal attendance at the Met Gala is quite brief. Princess Diana graced the event in 1996, donning a stunning John Galliano for Christian Dior slip dress, accessorized with her famous pearl and sapphire choker and her wedding ring, which holds sentimental value as Prince William later used it to propose to Kate. Years later, in 2018, Princess Beatrice, Diana’s niece, made her mark at the Gala just before Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
As anticipation builds for the 2024 Met Gala, the theme has been set as “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” inspired by the Costume Institute’s Spring 2024 Exhibition. The dress code, dubbed “The Garden of Time,” draws from J.G. Ballard’s 1962 novel, promising a night of timeless and imaginative fashion. Co-chairing the event alongside Wintour are stars like Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya, ensuring a blend of glamour and artistic flair.
Coverage of this high-profile event will be available on TV through E! and streamed online via Vogue and Peacock, allowing fashion enthusiasts around the world to partake in the spectacle and possibly dream about what could have been if Wintour’s preferred royal duo had walked the red carpet.