Meghan Markle’s fun Instagram return: The Duchess looks carefree as she plays on the beach in a video celebrating independence from the Royal Family, according to body language expert

A body language expert has noted that Meghan Markle’s return to Instagram signifies both her and Prince Harry achieving ‘freedom’ from the Royal Family, as well as a fresh start for the Duchess in terms of her public image.

The mother-of-two made a dramatic return to social media with a video of her laughing on the beach near Montecito on New Year’s Day.

In an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, communication coach Judi James shared that the video indicates a lighthearted comeback to social media, displaying a playful and almost childlike enthusiasm as Meghan joyfully runs barefoot on the beach.

James pointed out that Meghan’s demeanor and body language in the footage imply a reset in her branding and career, emphasizing a stripped-down and more authentic approach.

‘It oozes the freewheeling, carefree days of her blog The Tig when her “Like me, love me” adorability quota was ramped up to max and she looked like everyone’s favorite girl about town, with her enviable lifestyle and looks.’

Judi also suggested that Meghan’s writing the digits of the new year – 2025 – in the sand is a way to show us an era of ‘image re-boot or re-birth’. 

‘Her casual white outfit, tousled hair and bare feet seem to suggest the royal/campaigning/image-conscious woman might be stepping back for a while to let the more uncomplicated, free-range, carefree version of Meghan take to the stage again,’ she added.

‘Meghan is showing us an image that defies criticism and controversy via its “effortless” simplicity and its tonal and styling blandness.

Meghan Markle ‘s Instagram comeback signals her and Prince Harry ‘s ‘freedom’ from the Royal Family as well as an image re-boot for the Duchess, a body language expert has said

And speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, communications coach Judi James revealed that the clip marks a ‘playful’ return to the internet, showing an almost ‘childlike’ energy as she jovially runs barefoot in the sand

Judi also suggested that Meghan’s writing the digits of the new year – 2025 – in the sand is a way to show us an era of ‘image re-boot or re-birth’

‘If this is her launch pad it suggests a careful start from this “clean sheet”, perhaps then moving forward with the kind of career care and caution that she has learned via experience.’

The expert added that the video, which was filmed by Harry captures his wife ‘as she darts smiling in front of the camera in what looks like an invitation to be chased’.

‘On social media though it is the audience and the fans that identify with the camera, which also makes this a message direct to them that seems to signal “Let’s start again from scratch and you can follow me on my next journey” as she laughs and darts off across the beach,’ Judi continued.

‘Her subtly outstretched arms and the bare feet as she rushes to the grey seascape hints at fully embracing the concept of change and an uncluttered, unfettered professional new start.

‘It also repeats a theme of Harry and Meghan’s sense of “freedom” away from the royal Firm.

‘And of course, the sense of romance lurks in the way this is made to look like a besotted husband lovingly filming his playful wife alone on an isolated beach.’

The Duchess secured the account before launching her podcast all the way back in August 2022. Pictured in December

The new video sparked a frenzy online, as tens of thousands of people followed it in a matter of minutes, ballooning the account from 115,000 fans to 691,000 today. 

It has long been rumoured the profile belonged to Meghan after the account was set up back in June, 2022, but remained empty. She then teased fans again in 2023 when she declared she was ‘getting back on Instagram’. 

Now the mother-of-two has confirmed the profile is hers, by posting a clip walking towards the shoreline at the beach in California, where she lives with Prince Harry, and children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

The move is a huge u-turn for the Duchess, and is understood to be part of a new chapter for the couple and their lives in America, with her and Harry having previously ditched social media after quitting their royal duties.

As well as her first post, the @meghan account also updated its profile picture to a black-and-white shot of Meghan smiling and wearing and elegant white dress.

The return to Instagram comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex vowed never to return to social media after claiming to have dealt with an ‘almost unsurvivable’ amount of abuse. 

Meghan originally shut down all of her social media accounts in January 2018, just after getting engaged to Prince Harry.

‘Ms Markle is grateful to everyone who has followed her social media accounts over the years, however as she has not used them for some time she has taken the decision to close them,’ a Kensington Palace source said at the time.

In 2019 the royal couple caused controversy when they started their @sussexroyal Instagram account. Both pictured in May

In 2020, Meghan and Harry stopped posting to their Sussex Royal Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The royal couple have frequently spoken out about the abuse they received online, despite continuing to use online media to promote their ‘progressive’ new roles in the US – including most-recently via a podcast on Spotify. 

But in 2023 it was revealed that Meghan had set up an Instagram account – although Wednesday was the first time she has posted anything on it. 

The Duchess secured the account before launching her podcast all the way back in August 2022.

At the time a source said: ‘Meghan was set to go live on Insta, but changed her mind shortly before she launched her “Archetypes” podcast, so it’s just sitting there now.’

In 2023, Meghan revealed how she was eager to make a comeback to social media, telling The Cut: ‘Do you want to know a secret? I’m getting back…on Instagram.’ 

She had been teasing her return for months, with news that the @meghan handle was hers creating a frenzy of followers despite the account lying empty without a single post.  

Experts previously predicted Meghan could rake in $1million (£790,000) per post as ‘an absolute minimum’. They also anticipate that her account launch could see her become one of the top ten highest-paid influencers in the world. 

The royal couple have frequently spoken out about the abuse they received online, despite continuing to use online media to promote their ‘progressive’ new roles in the US – including most-recently via a podcast on Spotify. Harry and Meghan in April 

The account was first created in June 2022. It had no bio information and only had a profile picture of pink dahlias. 

It is unclear how Meghan was able to get hold of her unique username as Instagram’s guidelines state handles are given on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’. A single-name handle such as @meghan is rare, with most users needing to include surnames and numbers to find handles that haven’t already been taken.

It is also unknown whether the handle was held by a previous user, but celebrities are able to buy an Instagram name. 

The account shows the username has been changed once since it was created.

In 2019 the royal couple caused controversy when they started their @sussexroyal Instagram account.

Football fan Kevin Keiley, from West Sussex, had used the handle for around three years, creating it because he was a Reading FC fan – nicknamed The Royals – and was from Sussex.

But he said it was ‘stolen’ from him and given Instagram said his handle was given away because the account lay inactive, but Mr Keiley said no one contacted him about it.

Akshay Makadiya, founder of digital marketing agency RankLane, said: ‘Celebrities often have an easier time obtaining specific usernames on platforms like Instagram. Given her global fame, there are several methods Meghan could have potentially obtained the handle through.

‘The handle might have been in use by another individual with the same name or for other purposes. Meghan’s team could have reached out to the original user and negotiated a transfer.

‘This could involve a financial transaction. Or if the account was inactive or perceived as ‘squatting’ (holding on to a username without genuine use, especially with intentions to profit from it later), Instagram’s policies could have facilitated its release to Meghan.’

Social media expert Eric Schiffer previously told the Mail On Sunday: ‘I don’t think Meghan coming back to Instagram will surprise anyone. She has a new talent manager and this is the next logical step. You have celebrities like the Kardashians who can command $1million and up for a single post promoting a product. There is no reason Meghan couldn’t be earning those sorts of fees.’ 

MailOnline approached representative for the Duchess for comment at the time.