As the new year rolls in, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has taken a huge step as she marks her formal return to Instagram. On January 1, 2025, Markle took to Instagram to open her personal account, which she announced by sharing a video of herself.
According to ABC News, the video was taken by her husband, Prince Harry, on a beach close to their home in Montecito, California. In the video, Markle could be seen sprinting barefoot toward the incoming wave, with her back to the camera.
As the video progressed, Markle made a brief stop to write “2025” in the sand before laughing and running off. Enjoying her time on the beach, the Duchess of Sussex dressed in an all-white ensemble. Although Markle prevented people from commenting, she still received likes from Tan France, Chrissy Teigen, Serena Williams, and more.
Is Meghan Markle Back on Instagram?
Following a five-year break from Instagram, Meghan Markle has recently opened a new account under the handle @meghan. Although Markle had left the social media platform in 2017, following her engagement, she and her husband maintained their joint account until their departure.
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In 2019, two years after Meghan Markle officially left Instagram, the royal couple deleted their @sussexroyal Instagram account. Their decision to delete their account came after their departure from their high-ranking positions in the British royal family. However, after taking a long sabbatical from Instagram, Markle is making her comeback to the social media platform under her own name.
At the time of the account’s activation, there were several rumors that the couple was divorcing. In response to the rumors, Prince Harry said, “It seems like we have purchased or relocated ten or twelve times. It appears that we have also divorced perhaps ten or twelve times. Thus, it is just like, ‘What?'”
Prior to Meghan Markle’s Instagram return in 2025, an anonymous source informed Page Six in 2024 that she was preparing for her return to the photo-sharing platform. According to the source, Markle made preparations for the new account as early as August 2022.
The source indicated that the decision came ahead of Markle’s “Archetypes” Spotify Podcast, which only lasted for a single season. Subsequently speaking with The Cut, Markle subtly indicated her return to Instagram, saying, “Do you want to know a secret? I’m getting back… on Instagram.”
Does Meghan Markle Have Instagram?
As of 2025, Meghan Markle is officially back on the picture and video-sharing application, five years after her departure from the platform in 2019. Earlier in August 2023, it was reported by Page Six that Markle secured the handle @meghan ahead of her Instagram return.
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Since launching the account, Markle has garnered over 600,000 followers, but she has yet to follow anyone. Her profile picture on Instagram is a black-and-white image of herself smiling with her hair down.
Although Markle departed the platform at all capacity in 2019, she reentered the platform atmosphere after the creation of her company’s Instagram page. Earlier last year, Markle announced the debut of her company, American Riviera Orchard, which includes a range of home goods and preserves.
However, the account was opened around the same time the company launched; its most recent post was from March 2024. Before her 2018 wedding, Markle had millions of followers on her social media accounts.
In 2019, the royal couple set a new Guinness World Record for reaching one million Instagram followers in record time. Prior to her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle shared pictures of her home, pets, and travels on Instagram.
How Meghan Markle’s Instagram Followers Reacted to Her Return
Since posting the video on January 1, 2025, Markle has amassed an astounding amount of 626,000 followers. However, given the account was opened in June 2022, some followers might have followed it prior to yesterday’s post.
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Since she rejoined, comments have been disabled on Markle’s Instagram debut video, preventing fans from sharing their reactions. This may be to prevent trolling and offensive remarks. However, some fans have taken offense at the fact that the account includes Markle’s royal title, the Duchess of Sussex.
Markle and Harry still hold the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex after stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020. Taking to X, a user wrote, “I do not understand how a woman can hold a title for a country that she will not even step foot in anymore, let alone live there.”
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