Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Instagram followers have grown to 11 million after they announced they were stepping back from their royal life. In a matter of days, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's @SussexRoyal profile reached the same number of followers as Kate Middleton and Prince William's @KensingtonRoyal account.
According to Daily Star, Sussex Royal was less than 5,000 followers short of the Kensington Royal as of yesterday afternoon. Last month, the account was at 9.5 million followers but the numbers rose when they made the shocking decision to leave the royal family.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, Queen Elizabeth, finally, confirmed in a statement that Prince Harry and Meghan are allowed to live in Canada or North America, as they requested. However, in stepping back from their royal life, Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer be able to use their His/Her Royal Highness titles.
Prince Harry has also been stripped off his military affiliations and will no longer take part in royal military events. While they can keep the Sussex name, Queen Elizabeth will also no longer ask the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to represent her in royal engagements.
Meanwhile, Daily Express reported that Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to use Sussex Royal on Instagram to expand their brand. A friend of the couple said that the name with the word "royal" will be retained and they are also not planning to change their website.
The friend also claimed that Meghan has been telling friends that leaving the royal family has the been the best thing for Prince Harry. The couple are now staying in a rented mansion in Vancouver Island but they have no plans to move out just yet. Meghan apparently regards her new home as their happy place.
But in his speech, in what would likely be his final official royal duty, Prince Harry said that he was sad for the outcome of their arrangement with the Queen. The Duke of Sussex insisted that he is not walking away from his royal life because he still offered to serve Queen Elizabeth and the Commonwealth.
Prince Harry, however, said that in stepping back from the life he has known, he has come to accept that he has to step forward to the life he longs -- a more peaceful existence without the media scrutiny with his wife and son.
