Meghan Markle was left with "no choice" ahead of the Duchess of Sussex's latest move, according to a royal commentator.
The mother-of-two made a return to social media, launching her new Instagram account with the handle @meghan on New Year's Day 2025.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has already accumulated more than one million followers since debuting on the platform earlier this month.
The return marks her first personal social media presence since January 2018, when she deleted her accounts ahead of joining the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle left with 'no choice' after Duchess of Sussex's latest move
Getty
Her new venture comes alongside a significant career announcement, with the former royal using the platform to reveal her upcoming Netflix series.
In her debut post, Meghan shared an endearing video of herself writing "2025" in the sand along the shoreline near her Montecito home.
The charming moment was captured by her husband Prince Harry, who was revealed to be the cameraman behind the footage.
The post marked a significant moment for the duchess, who previously maintained a strong social media presence through her lifestyle blog, The Tig, and personal accounts before joining the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle's Instagram profile picture InstagramHer new @meghan account, which was initially created in June 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, had undergone at least one username change before settling on its current handle.
The couple still maintains their joint @sussexroyal Instagram account, which boasts over nine million followers.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond has suggested that while Meghan's return to social media was strategically planned, her influence has diminished since departing from royal duties.
"Meghan is good at PR. Her enigmatic post did exactly what she wanted: got everyone talking about what she's planning next.
Meghan and Harry's final Christmas at Sandringham in 2018
Getty"It was simple and clever," Bond told The Mirror.
However, the former royal correspondent noted that Meghan's current status differs from her royal days.
"She hasn't broken any records with gaining followers — and she's not the megastar she was when she was part of the Royal Family — but I'm sure her following will build," Bond explained.
The expert also described Meghan's social media comeback as a "shrewd and obvious move," noting that the duchess was likely left with "no choice" but to have her business presence on social platforms.
Meghan Markle with her good friend Mindy Kaling during the Netflix trailerNetflixJust one day after her Instagram debut, Meghan announced her new Netflix series "With Love, Meghan," a culinary programme filmed in her California home.
The show features an impressive lineup of celebrity guests, including Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, and Alice Waters, alongside other renowned chefs.
Sharing her enthusiasm for the project, Meghan said: "I have been so excited to share this with you. I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it."
In her announcement, she expressed gratitude to the production team, stating: "Thanks to our amazing crew and the team @netflix. Beyond grateful for the support - and fun! As ever, Meghan."
The cooking series is set to premiere on Netflix later this month, marking another significant step in Meghan's post-royal career.
