Meghan Pays Tribute to Legendary Photographer & Smart Works Collection Launch

We begin today's brief post on a sad note. I was very sorry to hear legendary fashion photographer Peter Lingbergh passed away. Readers of this blog will know his most recent project saw him shoot 'Forces for Change', the September issue of British Vogue guest edited by the Duchess. Following the news, Sussex Royal shared the following post with a previously unseen photo of Meghan and Peter. His work is revered globally for capturing the essence of a subject and promoting healthy ideals of beauty, eschewing photoshopping, and preferring natural beauty with minimal makeup. The Duchess of Sussex had worked with Peter in the past and personally chose him to shoot the fifteen women on the cover for the September issue of British Vogue. There is no other photographer she considered to bring this meaningful project to life. 'Forces for Change' was the one of the esteemed photographer’s final published projects. He will be deeply missed.

Readers will recall Peter shot Meghan's 2017 Vanity Fair cover. During the interview with Sam Kashner, Meghan said she was thrilled to work with Peter Lindbergh because he rarely retouches and he believes in such little makeup. "I gave him a big hug and said, ‘I am so excited to work with you because I know we will finally be able to see my freckles!'"

The behind-the-scenes video from the shoot features several great clips of Meghan and Peter.

More from Harper's Bazaar:

'The news was confirmed on his Instagram page in a post that read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Lindbergh on September 3rd 2019, at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife Petra, his first wife Astrid, his four sons Benjamin, Jérémy, Simon, Joseph and seven grandchildren. He leaves a big void."

Lindbergh was known for masterminding some of the industry's most iconic imagery, using his signature black and white, elegant style to capture women at their most naturally beautiful, from Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford to Rihanna and Lady Gaga. He redefined standards of beauty, refusing to curtail to the glossy, retouched perfection that pervades some magazines and social media. Instead, he focused on his subject's humanity and essence.

He also shot the Pirelli calendar three times in 1996, 2002 and 2017 - the only photographer in the calendar's 50-year history to do so - taking pictures of actresses, rather than models for the first time. In 2017, he photographed a number of stars for Pirelli with barely any make-up or styling. He hoped to "remind everyone that there's a beauty that's more real and truthful and not manipulated by commercial or any other interests," as he said at a press conference at the time.'

More from British Vogue: "The German photography titan boasts a long history with British Vogue, but it was his now-famous January 1990 cover, featuring a gang of supermodels, that was the reference for the Forces for Change issue. 'Natural' was a word that came up repeatedly in cover discussions. 'I hate retouching, I hate make-up. I always say, "Take the make-up off!"' Lindbergh, 74, confirms. “The number of beautiful women who have asked me to lengthen their legs or move their eyes further apart…” he breaks into a laugh. “You would not believe. It’s a culture of madness.”

Peter with Edward Enninful and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the London set of the Forces for Change issue.

One of Peter's most famous quotes.

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It was announced earlier today, the Duchess will officially return to duties for the launch of the Smart Works capsule collection next Thursday, 12 September. The highly-anticipated event will see the collection unveiled. Buckingham Palace said: "The collection is brought in partnership with leading British fashion designers Jigsaw, John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer and Misha Nonoo and includes work wear essentials to help equip Smart Works’ clients with the key essentials they need as they attend interviews and enter into the workplace – including a shirt, trousers, blazer, dress and bag. For every item bought during the sale of the collection, which will last for at least two weeks, one will be donated to Smart Works – allowing customers to help empower and support other women and play a part in their success story."

The Duchess will deliver a short speech before watching a panel and meeting Smart Works clients and representatives. Are you excited to see the capsule collection?

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With September getting into full swing, we're all thinking ahead to the tour. Omid Scobie reports we should hear more details by the end of the week. We do know it kicks off on Monday, 23 September in South Africa. It's safe to say Prince Harry is more than a little excited about the trip. On Instagram, he wrote: "In just a few weeks our family will be taking its first official tour to Africa, a region of the world that over the past two decades has been a second home to me. Our team has helped create a meaningful programme that we’re so excited to share with you. On a personal note, I can’t wait to introduce my wife and son to South Africa! We’ll see all of you very soon."

The couple also shared this quote by South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and former president Nelson Mandela.

I think it very likely we'll see an engagement with the Nelson Mandela Foundation during the tour.