Meghan Markle Didn't Make Vogue UK's List Of Influential Women, But Another Royal Did

Meghan Markle may have worked with British Vogue last year, but she didn't make the magazine's annual list of 25 influential women this year.

Vogue UK has released its list of the top 25 women who played a big role in "shaping 2020" in the United Kingdom — the third lineup the British magazine has put out since it began this tradition in 2018. Despite her popularity, the Duchess of Sussex's qualifications were not enough to score a spot on the magazine's list this year.

Another member of the British royal family did, however, make the list of the most powerful women in the U.K. British Vogue wrote that the COVID-19 pandemic "deepened" Queen Elizabeth II's relevance and acknowledged her as a "source of unique solace and support" when the country "grappled with fear and grief."

"Her pitch-perfect message, ending with the promise 'We will meet again', echoing the words of Vera Lynn, was watched by some 24 million people. Even in 2020 – a precarious year for the royal family in other ways – the Queen is still a source of unique solace and support to the public," the magazine wrote of the Queen's April 5 address to the nation that was broadcast across the U.K.

The list also included a number of women across different fields and professions, including actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury, novelist Bernardine Evaristo, deputy chief medical officer Dr. Jenny Harries, vaccinologist and professor Sarah Gilbert and footballer Steph Houghton.

Another popular figure on the list is Rihanna, a musician, designer, beauty innovator, businesswoman and philanthropist rolled into one.

British Vogue acknowledged Rihanna's $2.1 million donation to support L.A. domestic violence victims. She also donated $36 million to COVID-19 relief.

"With anticipation for her ninth album at fever pitch, she continues to dominate every industry she touches," Vogue UK said of the artist and entrepreneur.

Markle made it on the list last year. The magazine praised the duchess for modernizing the monarchy.

"A year into her marriage, the Duchess of Sussex is still very much a modern princess. From charities to childbirth, the choices she makes reflect the way she is gently modernizing the royal family," Vogue wrote of the duchess.

"With her patronage of Smart Works, she combines her interest in fashion with her desire to support women’s careers, while the quietly revolutionary decision she and Prince Harry took to keep their child’s birth private echoes the commitment to wellness she was known for prior to her new life, as well as her feminist ideals," it continued.

Meanwhile, Vogue editor Edward Enninful praised the Duchess of Sussex for being brave. He agreed that Markle received unfair treatment but added that he didn't blame the harsh criticism toward Markle on racism alone.

"She walked into an institution and everybody expected her to know the rules," Enninful told Sky News. "Sometimes it takes a minute to understand the rules. She did get very unfair treatment. It was harsh but I wouldn't just blame it on racism."