The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has seemingly returned to the spotlight with her own Instagram account – seven years on from deactivating her original account to join the Royal Family

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle has seemingly returned to the spotlight and launched her own personal Instagram account – a possible sign she and husband Prince Harry have ‘professionally split’ in terms of their respective careers.

The Duchess seems to have a new account with the simple handle, ‘meghan’, and one singular post, a video reel. However, the account has yet to be verified with a blue tick. The video showed the royal and former actress running along the beach before she bends over to write ‘2025’ in the wet sand.

She could be heard dusting her hands before she laughed and ran past the camera. Prince Harry was nowhere in sight for the actual video but was reportedly the one filming the short clip. Comments are turned off on the post but her account has already gained over a 100,000 followers in a short period of time.

In January 2018, ahead of marrying Prince Harry, Meghan deactivated her Instagram, Twitter (X) and Facebook accounts, alongside her lifestyle blog The Tig, ahead of becoming part of the Royal Family. Meghan previously hinted at her return to social media in August 2022, telling The Cut: “I’m getting back … on Instagram.”

She wrote ‘2025’ in the sand ( 
Image:
Instagram)

Meghan’s new Instagram account was created in June 2022, around the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and has had one previous username prior to its current handle. The mum-of-two and Prince Harry have an official joint Instagram account, ‘sussexroyal’, with over 9million followers.

Meghan’s solo return to Instagram follows the former Suits actress and husband Harry sharing some festive cheer with their 2024 Christmas card, featuring a joyful family photo. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s card last month showcased a new snap of their children, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3.

One of the six photos in the greeting captures the kids from behind as they excitedly dash towards their parents. The card depicts Meghan beaming at Archie while Harry greets Lili, affirming his recent remarks about her long, red hair – just like her big brother’s. “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message read.

Meghan was reportedly filmed by her husband, Prince Harry
The montage also includes five other snaps of Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, from their visits to Nigeria and Colombia this year. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year,” it concluded. For Royal enthusiasts, it was a rare chance to see the Sussexes’ children, who were last seen in the couple’s Netflix docuseries ‘Harry and Meghan’, released in December 2022.

Nearly half a decade after stepping down as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have kept up the tradition of releasing their Christmas card photograph just like other Royal Family members. The 2023 season’s greeting featured the Sussexes at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf—a cheerful snapshot with Harry in a chic black shirt and jacket, and Meghan dazzling in a sophisticated dark green strapless dress.

While fans eagerly await their card each year, the couple has sometimes chosen not to include their children in it. An insider previously informed People earlier that Harry is cautious about publicising his children—not out of secrecy but to shield them from the spotlight and safeguard against threats.

“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.” Concern for their normalcy and safety related to abduction fears is paramount for him. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm. Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” alluding to the tragedy of Princess Diana’s passing.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ( 
Image:
Anadolu via Getty Images)Meanwhile, fans have been wondering about the state of their relationship amid a string of solo appearances. Harry was forced to address cruel claims during an appearance in New York at a prestigious event, where he laughed off any discontent in the marriage and added that he felt ‘genuinely’ sorry for the trolls, whose “hopes are just built and built, and it doesn’t happen”.

Suits actress Meghan and her husband have been busy with their projects, with Meghan gearing up to launch her brand American Rivieria Orchard, while Harry’s Invictus Games will take place in February in Vancouver and Whistler in Canada. Sources close to the couple also claimed one of them always stays behind from appearances for their children.

One pal previously told People: “What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary.” Meanwhile, another source also told the magazine that it shows the couple’s new “twin-track approach” with Harry focusing on his charity endeavours and Meghan on her entrepreneurial projects and business.

And PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Telegraph that the Sussexes’ “separation of work” has been ongoing for a while now, especially as Meghan works on her new American Riviera Orchard brand. Borkowski thinks their solo appearances is because the “star power” they believed they might have had as a couple when they dramatically quit their royal roles simply “didn’t work”.