The new editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, Mark Guiducci, seems to be guiding his team to present the children of his friend Prince Andrew in a more positive light, according to a report.
It appears that Guiducci, who took over from Radhika Jones at the Condé Nast-owned publication, raised concerns about mentions of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughters of the disgraced prince. For instance, in a Vanity Fair piece focusing on fatherhood—linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein—there was a discussion about whether it was suitable to reference the princesses.
Reports suggest that Guiducci’s intervention resulted in only brief mentions of the princesses in the magazine’s September issue focused on Prince Andrew. The news outlet Semafor pointed out that the original article might have contained more context before Guiducci’s edits.
In another article from late September, titled “Sarah Ferguson avoided the worst of the Epstein scandal,” reporter Erin Vanderhoof explored newly uncovered emails revealing that Sarah Ferguson had referred to Epstein as a “steadfast, generous and best friend.” This revelation led to significant backlash in the UK, with charities distancing themselves from her.
Following the controversy, an event for the launch of Ferguson’s children’s book was also scrapped, further complicating her public image. Ferguson’s representative claimed her friendly email was a reaction to a threatening communication from Epstein and was meant to prevent legal issues.
Guiducci’s appointment has raised eyebrows due to his close ties to celebrity circles, including a long relationship with Anna Wintour’s daughter. He transitioned from his role as chief creative officer at Vogue, another Condé Nast publication, to this new position.
Under Guiducci’s leadership, Vanity Fair seems to be softening its tone towards celebrities, perhaps recognizing the changing media landscape where access and positive relationships with stars are increasingly vital.
In other articles, changes in wording have also been made. For instance, in an article about Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Guiducci reportedly suggested phrasing that would downplay any tension, indicating that the celebrities might be preoccupied with their kids. He questioned a reporter’s earlier choices regarding the talent department’s consultation for comment requests.
Recently, King Charles III has formally stripped Prince Andrew of his royal titles, further distancing the monarchy from the fallout of Andrew’s connection to Epstein. This move includes Andrew now being referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, without any official titles to his name.
Andrew, who denies accusations of sexual assault brought by Virginia Giuffre, sees his position in the royal family being systematically eliminated since her memoir’s publication highlighted serious allegations against him.
Efforts to reach out to Condé Nast for comments on these developments remain ongoing.
