Meghan Markle started the New Year with a flourish: on Wednesday, January 1, the Duchess of Sussex returned to Instagram under the handle @meghan.

The Duchess had previously shared many of her life's moments on @meghanmarkle, but the account went on hiatus in January 2018, shortly after her engagement to Prince Harry. The Sussexes also had their own official Instagram account, @sussexroyal, which they stopped using when the Duke and Duchess stepped down as senior royals. But with the impending launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, she seems ready to share her personal moments again.

Her first post was Reel, which Marie Claire understands Prince Harry filmed at a local beach near his home in Montecito, California. In the video, Meghan, dressed in stark white, runs along the beach, bends down to write “2025,” then giggles and walks out of frame.

In August 2023, Marie Claire reported rumors that the duchess had secured the @meghan handle and was returning to Instagram. However, it was unclear whether the account was definitely hers, and a full year after its launch, she had not posted anything...

The Duchess of Sussex's return to Instagram is not under the umbrella of her royal title or official duties, but as a private individual trying to connect with her audience in a more personal and authentic way. This move is especially important because of the Duchess's work with the Archwell Foundation's Parents Network, which helps families adversely affected by social media.

Princess Meghan is understood to be planning to share a personal moment to show that social media can be used as a positive tool to spread joy and connection.

Watch this space for her next Instagram post.