How Camilla Parker Bowles Is Following In Meghan Markle's Footsteps

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be the guest editor of the Country Life magazine in July to celebrate her 75th birthday. According to a press release by the magazine, the July edition "will reflect The Duchess's love of horses and dogs — she has two rescue Jack Russell terriers, Bluebell and Beth, and is patron of Battersea Cats and Dogs' Home. The Duchess will reveal her champions of the countryside, her most cherished view, and favorite recipe. The edition will also focus on the work of The Duchess as patron of over 90 charities, from Barnardo's to The Royal School of Needlework and The Royal Society of Literature," per People.

Parker-Bowles will also make it her mission to showcase deeper topics in the July issue of Country Life, as a source close to the Duchess of Cornwall told Telegraph. "She loves the country life, but it won't be just horses and dogs and lovely countryside," the source told Telegraph. "There is that slightly confronting side of the difficult issues the countryside faces."

Other members of the royal family are also connected to Country Life Magazine. According to People, Prince Charles was a guest editor for Country Life in November 2013 for his 65th birthday and again in 2018 for his 70th birthday. Parker-Bowles's son, Tom Parker-Bowles, is also a contributor to the magazine.

For the very first time in British Vogue's history, the September issue of the magazine was co-edited by a public figure. In 2019, Meghan Markle co-edited the September issue of British Vogue, titled "Forces for Change," according to British Vogue. This issue included in-depth features on 15 women from around the world who are making a difference, like former First Lady Michelle Obama (whom Markle actually interviewed), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, climate activist Greta Thunberg, actor and activist Jane Fonda, and LGBTQIA+ activist Laverne Cox. Markle's husband, Prince Harry, also contributed to that edition of the magazine by interviewing Dr. Jane Goodall, per People.

Seemingly highlighting the relentless criticism that Markle has received from the British press, Buzzfeed News reported that British publications criticized the Duchess of Sussex for being too "uppity" and political for a member of the royal family at that time. 

"The issues [highlighted in the magazine] that have been deemed by some as 'too political' for a member of the Royal Family to take on have nothing to do with politics — they're about basic human rights and respecting mankind," royal commentator Omid Scobie told Buzzfeed News in 2019. "Since day one, we've seen Meghan criticized for things that other royals have been celebrated for." 

Criticism aside, Markle's edition of British Vogue was the fastest-selling edition in the publication's history at the time, according to Forbes.