Meghan Markle, 43, made an unexpected comeback on Instagram after giving up social media for years. She returned with a video of herself on the beach celebrating the new year, marking a new slate in the year and her life.
Experts debate that her comeback video, with Prince Harry filming her, is a statement of “freedom,” where they have broken free from the royal chains.
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A communications coach weighs in
Judi James spoke exclusively to Femail, revealing that the mother-of-two’s return to social media is a “playful” one. In the video, she can be seen with an almost “childlike” aura as she can be seen running in the sand barefoot.
What Markle’s body language says
“Meghan’s presentation and her body language in this video suggest some kind of back-to-basics re-boot of her branding and her career,” James explained.
She also said that she gave off the same energy she did during the “freewheeling, carefree days of her blog The Tig,” when she was “everyone’s favorite girl about town.”
Markle’s “image re-boot or re-birth”
The expert also weighed in on the footage where Markle was writing “2025” in the sand, saying that Markle is opting for a new brand for herself.
No more of “the royal/campaigning/image-conscious woman.” Instead, she’s welcoming “the more uncomplicated, free-range, carefree version of Meghan.”
Defying “criticism and controversy”
Markle’s “casual white outfit, tousled hair and bare feet” serenely exhibit simplicity, so much so that she’s embracing the calm the beach brings, away from the hassle of the royal life. The white she wore also suggests the new start of a “clean page.”
A warm invitation to everyone
James also suggests that the fact that Prince Harry was filming the video of his wife darting and smiling suggests that Markle is welcoming “to be chased.”
Markle can also be seen as “fully embracing the concept of change and an uncluttered, unfettered professional new start.”
Love is in the air
The expert emphasized that Markle’s video and Prince Harry filming her radiates a sense of “freedom” away from their royal firm. Furthermore, she added that “this is made to look like a besotted husband lovingly filming his playful wife alone on an isolated beach.”
The account skyrocketed
After the video was posted, the number of followers exponentially increased from 115,000 to 1.3 million in a matter of a few days. Rumor has it that the account belonged to Markle after it was set in June 2022 but was empty.
The account is now confirmed to be hers
After posting her video in California where she resides with her husband and two children, Archie and Lilibet, it is now confirmed that the Instagram account is indeed hers. This is a major move as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave up social media after quitting their royal duties.
They faced unsurmountable abuse
What made them quit social media was their claims of an “almost unsurvivable” amount of abuse, back when Markle got engaged to Prince Harry. Markle shut down all her social media accounts in January 2018, right after her engagement to the Duke of Sussex.
In 2023, Markle teased her return
Back in 2023, it was revealed that the Duchess had an Instagram account. She told The Cut in 2023 about how she was eager to make a comeback on social media, saying: “Do you want to know a secret? I’m getting back…on Instagram.” However, it wasn’t until last Wednesday that she put the account to use.