According to Judi James, body language expert, the recent return of Meghan Markle on Instagram has sparked conversations about the nature of her relationship with Prince Harry.
Per the story published by Mirror, @meghan was the moniker that the Duchess of Sussex used when she created her first Instagram account since the year 2020, which she did on January 1, 2025. In the first post she ever made, she uploaded a humorous video of herself racing down a beach while wearing white and sketching the number "2025" in the sand. Having made a number of solo appearances over the past few months, the video, which was filmed by Prince Harry, comes at a time when it appears that the couple is pursuing separate professional paths. Since they returned from their tour of Colombia in August, they have not been seen together before the public.
James noted that the video offers significant insight into their relationship dynamics. She stated, "Well, it looks like a very confident but playful Meghan is re-opening that Pandora's box that is social media here, posting an enigmatic little video that is more celebrity in mood than royal."
The expert went on to explain further on the body language that was portrayed in the video, stating that Meghan's movements reflect a yearning for connection. "The body language appears pinned on the person holding the camera here, as doing smiling zoomies down a beach would normally imply a desire to be chased. There's even the 'clue' of those huge footprints in the wet sand to match up with Harry's feet, so the undercurrent story seems to be that the romance is still alive in the Montecito household," she added, per The News International.
When the pair decided to stand down from their position as senior royals in the year 2020, they decided to quit their original Instagram account. The account was inaugurated on April 2, 2019, and it was utilized to announce key milestones, such as the birth of their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, as well as to promote their charity initiatives. As part of a larger attempt to seek seclusion and distance from royal duties, the couple made the choice to withdraw from social media.
Further commentary was provided by James regarding Meghan's return to social media, in which she suggested that it represents a change in her approach to engaging with the public.
"The gap in her personal social media use seems to have been about privacy, but here she looks happy but a little coy about opening up those doors again for some direct, peek-a-boo communication with the public in a very celebrity-based way," she said.
Speculating that Meghan's return could be inspired by the recent success of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who posted a touching video with her family, indicating that it is possible to mix royal duties with personal expression.
Before Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, she had previously deleted all of her social media accounts, so her absence from these platforms was not exactly unique. During her time as an actress on the show "Suits," Meghan demonstrated a strong presence on Instagram, and she had previously hinted at the possibility of returning to the platform. In a 2022 interview with New York Magazine's The Cut, she teased, "Do you want to know a secret? I'm getting back ... on Instagram."
She has, however, indicated reluctance, citing concerns about being harassed online. In the year 2023, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry lobbied for stricter content moderation regulations on social media platforms, highlighting the possible adverse effects on the mental health of young people.
As Meghan returns to the realm of social media, her relationship with Prince Harry continues to receive a great deal of attention from the general public. Many people are eager to observe how the dynamic between them develops over the course of the following year.
Business Times has reached out to Meghan Markle for comments.
