Will Mario Testino Shoot Kate Middleton for the Cover of Vogue?

For the past few days the rumor mill has been alive with talk of American Vogue chasing the newly minted Duchess of Cambridge with the hopes of making her their newest cover girl. According to a story by The New York Post, Vogue editor and chief Anna Wintour is hoping to get Kate Middleton on the cover of her mag in the next few months with the help of veteran Vogue photographer and personal friend of William and Kate, Mario Testino. Testino was after all the one who shot Will and Kate’s official engagement photos so it would make sense that the trusted friend of the couple would be the best choice to shoot the world’s favorite royal for the world’s premier fashion mag.

However since Kate is not only fashion royalty, but actual royalty as well, the quest to get her on the cover of Vogue may be too much even for the mighty and powerful Anna Wintour to pull off. Sources close to the royal family told The Post that “every magazine has been trying to get Kate, and many assume it will eventually be Vogue. But even with the Mario Testino relationship, it is not clear when this will happen. The Palace must approve it, and they are very protective of Kate.”

So far that protection has been needed, as Kate’s unauthorized cover appearances, though few, have always managed to stir controversy. First was Italian women’s mag Grazia which featured the just married Kate on their cover shortly after the royal wedding and was immediately chastised by the world media for what appeared to be Photoshop work designed to make the already svelte Duchess look even skinnier, after months of denial the mag finally fessed up to the editing work though months later it is still their image that is in need of retouching. Next was the digital nightmare that was Newsweek’s Photoshopped cover featuring Kate and zombie Princess Diana which was again roundly panned, this time for bad taste.

Considering the fact that is it impossible to keep unauthorized images of Kate off magazine covers many are saying that the Palace should pick their battles and given the Duchess a chance to have some control over her image. Clearly there is no better choice then a Mario Testino spread for Vogue, so long as Anna Wintour gives the Photoshop department the day off.