Ex Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter compares Princess Diana and Meghan Markle, says duchess is ‘adrift on reality’

Graydon Carter reflects on Princess Diana’s grace and questions Meghan Markle’s grasp on fame & royal responsibility.

Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has weighed in on two of the most talked-about women to ever marry into the British royal family: Princess Diana and Meghan Markle. While promoting his memoir When the Going Was Good, Carter spoke to Page Six and shared striking reflections on both women and their media legacies.

Photo: Penguin Press

Carter, who edited the magazine from 1992 to 2017, described Princess Diana as “very intrigued” and full of thoughtful questions during their multiple dinner conversations. He recalled that Diana was particularly curious about how Jackie Kennedy was treated by the Kennedy family, drawing parallels with her own experiences within the monarchy.

Carter, who co-hosted the Vanity Fair party where Diana famously wore her “revenge dress” following Prince Charles’ public admission of infidelity, expressed admiration for her intelligence and poise.

Photo: Princess Diana Archive

He suggested Diana would feel “great sorrow” over Prince Harry’s estrangement from the royal family. “Anytime someone comes between siblings, that’s a disaster, horrible for a family,” he remarked.

In contrast, Carter was more critical of Meghan Markle. Recalling her 2017 Vanity Fair cover — one of his last as editor — he admitted, “I have no idea who that is,” when she was first suggested as a subject.

Photo: Vanity Fair

He claimed Markle questioned the journalist during the interview, asking, “Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy.” Carter’s verdict: “This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality.”

His sharp distinction between Diana’s curiosity and Meghan’s perceived self-focus reflects broader cultural debates surrounding royal duty, personal narrative, and media image in the modern monarchy.