Meghan Markle Receives Criticism From Netizens As She Returns To Instagram 5 Years After The Royal Exit

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, began the new year with a major social media comeback. On January 1, she posted a video on Instagram under the handle @meghan, confirming the long-standing rumors about the account being hers.

In her first post, Meghan is seen running on a beach near her Montecito, California home. Dressed in all white, she writes '2025' in the sand and briefly looks at the camera before running off. While Prince Harry does not appear in the video, People magazine reported that he was the one filming it.

The Royal Family: Before & After

Meghan’s return to Instagram comes after a five-year hiatus. Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan had a thriving online presence with 3 million Instagram followers and a popular lifestyle blog called 'The Tig'. She shut both down weeks before their high-profile royal wedding.

"It was a big adjustment-a huge adjustment to go from that kind of autonomy to a different life," Meghan said in an interview with The Cut about leaving social media behind.

She also shared in the same interview: "There's literally a structure by which if you want to release photos of your child, as a member of the family, you first have to give them to the Royal Rota."

The couple now shares two children, 5-year-old Prince Archie and 3-year-old Princess Lilibet.

Meghan receives criticism on her comeback

Meghan's Instagram return sparked mixed reactions. While she disabled comments on her first post, critics took to platforms like X and Reddit to share negative remarks. The backlash once again highlights the scrutiny Meghan faces in the public eye.

An X user commented, "Please don't give this bitch any attention. She's a family wrecking narcissist who should be ignored."

ANother user commented, "Another reason I’m glad that I’m not using Instagram. Please stay off X, Duchess!"

Despite the criticism, the Duchess of Sussex seems poised to make a fresh start on social media as she reclaims her online presence.