Meghan Markle has made her return to Instagram after a five-year hiatus, starting the new year with a fresh account under the handle @meghan. Her comeback was met with overwhelming attention, as nearly a million followers joined within the first day.
A Creative First Post
The Duchess of Sussex, now 43, marked her return with a black-and-white video shared on New Year’s Day. The clip features her running along a beach in a casual outfit—white button-up shirt and jeans—before pausing to write „2025“ in the sand with her finger. According to reports, her husband, Prince Harry, was behind the camera for this personal moment.
Observant fans quickly pointed out an amusing detail in the video: the „2025“ inscription was already visible in one section of the sand, suggesting that it took a couple of tries to get the perfect take. This lighthearted discovery resonated with many followers as a relatable aspect of creating social media content.
From Royal Profiles to Independence Online
Meghan and Harry originally shared an Instagram presence under @KensingtonRoyal, a joint account with Prince William and Kate Middleton, before launching their independent profile, @SussexRoyal, in 2019. That account was deactivated in 2020 as the couple stepped back from their official royal duties.
Since leaving their royal roles, both Meghan and Harry have expressed caution about returning to social media, citing previous experiences with online harassment. They’ve also publicly advocated for stronger content moderation on platforms to mitigate harm, particularly for younger users. Before creating her new account, reports suggest Markle engaged in discussions with Instagram’s parent company, Meta, focusing on safety and fostering healthier online spaces.
A Familiar Digital Footprint
Before her time as a royal, Markle was no stranger to social media. She had amassed millions of followers on her personal Instagram account, which she deactivated in 2018, four months before her wedding. She also ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig, which she closed in 2017, leaving fans eagerly awaiting her next digital project.
Teasing a New Venture
In her second Instagram post, Markle offered a glimpse of what’s to come. She teased her upcoming lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, set to debut later this month. While details about the project remain limited, the announcement has already sparked excitement among her followers.
