Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, makes Instagram comeback after 5 years with New Year’s video post

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has returned to Instagram with a new personal account, @meghan. The account, confirmed by the Associated Press, has already amassed over 700,000 followers. Her first post is a black-and-white video of herself drawing “2025” in the sand on a beach.

The video was reportedly filmed by her husband, Prince Harry, near their Montecito, California home, as per ABC News. Meghan and Harry live there with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2018, were previously associated with the shared royal account, @KensingtonRoyal, alongside Harry’s brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales.

Meghan’s Instagram return marks nearly five years since she and Harry shut down their @sussexroyal account. They closed it in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as senior royals and retiring the Sussex Royal brand. Launched in 2019, the @sussexroyal account broke a Guinness World Record for gaining one million followers in record time.

Since leaving their senior royal roles, both Harry and Meghan have spoken about the dangers of social media. However, Harry had denied reports that they had left social media for good, saying that platforms can offer a means of connecting and community.

Meghan had previously expressed concerns about harassment on social media. In 2023, the couple urged social media platforms to strengthen content-moderation policies.

Before her relationship with Harry, Meghan regularly posted on her personal Instagram, sharing moments from her travels, her pets, and culinary creations. She shut down the account in 2018, shortly before their wedding. The former “Suits” star also authored a blog, The Tig, which she closed in 2017 as her relationship with Harry deepened.

In a 2022 interview with The Cut, Meghan reflected on the challenges of transitioning from her independent life to the public scrutiny of royal duties. “It was a big adjustment—a huge adjustment to go from that kind of autonomy to a different life,” she said.

Earlier this year, Meghan experimented with another Instagram account, @AmericanRivieraOrchard, but it has remained inactive since March.