Anna Wintour, the iconic British-American media executive and Vogue editor-in-chief, raised two children with her first husband, physician David Shaffer, to whom she was married from 1984 to 1999. While her son and daughter opted for careers outside the high-fashion world their mother commands, they maintain a close bond with her and have occasionally joined her at major public events. Both also chose to marry their respective partners at their mother’s famed country estate, years after building their individual lives.
Charles Shaffer Charles Shaffer, born in July 1985, is Anna and David’s elder child. In June 2014, at 28, he wed Elizabeth Cordry at his mother’s sprawling 42-acre country estate. Elizabeth was then an associate director at Jet.com. The wedding, meticulously overseen by West Coast Vogue editor Lisa Love, was followed by a honeymoon in the Rockies. Charles and Elizabeth first met as students at Oxford University. Charles later pursued medicine, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in psychiatry from Columbia University in 2016.
Following his graduation and marriage, Charles embraced fatherhood. He and Elizabeth welcomed their first daughter, Caroline, in March 2017, with Elizabeth sharing the news on social media. Two years later, their family expanded with their second daughter, Ella Rose. Despite his preference for a private life, Charles has been seen with his mother at prominent events like the Met Gala.
Bee Shaffer Katherine “Bee” Shaffer, born in July 1987, is Anna and David’s younger child and only daughter. As she approached graduation from Columbia in January 2008, Bee expressed uncertainty about her career prospects, acknowledging the challenging job market. When asked about joining her mother at Vogue, she emphatically stated, “Oh, God, no. I’m staying far away from Vogue.” Anna, however, remained unconcerned about Bee’s future.
Bee’s disinterest in fashion was clear. She once candidly remarked that she wasn’t “fashion forward” and wouldn’t wear the same things as supermodels due to her different body type. Instead of following her mother into the style industry, Bee carved out a career in television and film. She worked as a segment producer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” before transitioning to film production.
Her husband, Francesco Carrozzini, is also in the entertainment industry, working as a director and photographer known for music videos with artists like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. Bee and Francesco married in July 2018 at Anna’s Long Island home, followed by a second ceremony in Portofino, Italy. On their wedding day, they quietly visited the grave of Francesco’s late mother, Franca Sozzani, the former editor of Italian Vogue, who had passed away in 2016.
Their relationship became public in 2016, though they had reportedly been together longer. In October 2021, they welcomed their son, Oliver Sozzani, a joyous event Bee shared on Instagram weeks later with three sweet photos. It was also revealed that Anna Wintour prefers to be called “Anna” by her grandchildren, rather than a traditional grandmother name.
Bee occasionally shares nostalgic moments online, such as a May 2023 post featuring herself in the same Chanel gown she wore in 2006, receiving widespread admiration for her timeless beauty. Bee has also spoken about the life habits she adopted from her mother, including early bedtimes, early wake-ups, and a strict adherence to punctuality, stating, “I do not understand people who are late. It’s so easy to be on time.”
She described her mother as a deeply generous, efficient, and task-focused leader, dispelling perceptions of Anna as cold. Bee highlighted Anna’s strong work ethic and her playful side, recalling Anna’s teasing about Bee’s green juice habit while living in Los Angeles. Anna Wintour, beyond fashion, enjoys Harry Styles’ music and maintains connections with numerous high-profile individuals. Her signature Chanel sunglasses are countless, and she fiercely guards her private life, including her marriage to Shelby Bryan from 2004 to 2020.
Ultimately, Anna Wintour’s children, Charles and Bee, forged their own successful paths in medicine and film, respectively, while remaining deeply connected to their powerful mother. Despite her public persona, Anna’s private side as a proud mother and grandmother shines through the intimate stories shared by those closest to her.