Meghan Markle set to appear on front cover of Variety

The Duchess of Sussex has locked in another high-profile magazine shoot but its release has been delayed out of respect for the Queen.

Meghan Markle’s forthcoming Variety cover story for its ‘Power of Women’ issue has been postponed out of respect for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, was given the honour alongside Ava DuVernay, Elizabeth Olsen and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, among others, it’s been revealed.

The magazine said on Friday that Meghan’s cover will not be available until further notice while she and the royal family mourn the loss of Her Majesty, who died September 8 at age 96. The announcement came just weeks after Meghan debuted on The Cut cover.

“Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, was chosen as one of one of this year’s stellar honorees,” Variety wrote via Twitter on Wednesday.

“The Duchess’ cover will be postponed to a later date, out of respect for the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II.”

Variety delayed Meghan’s cover out of respect for the Queen’s death. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Additionally, Meghan will no longer be attending the ‘Power of Women’ issue’s accompanying Los Angeles event on September 28.

It comes after the mother-of-two posed for the cover of The Cut in late August, in which she made several damaging comments about the royal family.

Meghan Markle recently appeared on the cover of The Cut. Picture: Campbell Addy

The Suits alum and her husband, Prince Harry – Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson – are currently in the UK preparing for the sovereign’s state funeral on Monday.

The couple raised eyebrows when they were spotted holding hands at the Monarch’s procession on Wednesday – because they are no longer working members of the royal family.

“Harry and Meghan are grieving relatives and are under no obligation to follow royal protocol,” body language expert Inbaal Honigman told the British newspaper The Daily Express in defence of the pair.

“Their hands are there to support one another emotionally during this loss,” Honigman added.

Harry, 38, and Meghan gave up their royal duties as Duke and Duchess of Sussex in January 2020 due to ongoing issues like media scrutiny and inner turmoil within the family. They have since relocated to California.

Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle stood together at the Queen’s service at Westminster Hall. Picture: BBC Grab for Sally Willoughby

Despite any tension with the remaining royals in England, Meghan has only spoken highly of Queen Elizabeth II.

“It’s incredible, I think, you know, a) to be able to meet her through [Harry’s] lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother,” the former actress said of the Queen in a 2017 joint CBS interview with Harry. “All of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her,” Meghan continued. “And we’ve had a really – she’s an incredible woman.”

This article originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission