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Meghan Markle had a strong presence on social media: Should she have utilised that?


Meghan Markle closed her social media accounts in January, just months before she married Prince Harry and became a member of the Royal Family.

The former actress had been an active user on Instagram, and boasted over 1.9 million followers, in addition to 350,000 followers on Twitter.

From foodie snaps to mirror selfies and yoga poses on the beach, the former ‘Suits’ star used her accounts to keep her fans updated on her life.

Meghan used to be active on social media (Getty)
Meghan used to be active on social media (Getty)

Meghan also ran her own lifestyle website, The Tig, where she shared her favourite foods, travel destinations and fashion and beauty must-haves. The site became defunct in April 2017 and LA born Meghan, 37, left a parting message for her fans, which included “Above all, don’t ever forget your worth – as I’ve told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough.”

With the exception of Princess Eugenie (and Beatrice, whose Insta account appears to be private), none of the senior royals have their own social media accounts.

Instead, photos and information about the work they are doing are documented on the different palace household accounts. Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) is the division which represents Meghan and Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

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#fbf. Missing this little lady and our adventures @meghanmarkle #thetig #tigtravel

A post shared by Jess Mulroney (@jessicamulroney) on Aug 26, 2016 at 7:42pm PDT

But many think that she could have kept her own personal social media accounts.

“I didn’t want Meghan to come off social media. I was like, ‘you’ve got an amazing audience there, why don’t you just keep it?’” PR expert Dean Piper tells Yahoo UK‘s The Royal Box.

He says the royals have a little bit more freedom now, while also being able to have more of a private life.

He adds: “It would have been quite forward-thinking for her to have kept that.”

During the royal tour of Australia, the Duchess of Sussex told locals on Sydney’s Bondi Beach that she found it “freeing” to be off social media.

Documenting your every move is a foregone conclusion within celebrity circles, but as etiquette expert Jo Bryant points out, the royals are striking a good balance with the mystique around them.

The farewell message on Meghan Markle’s old website The Tig (thetig.com)
The farewell message on Meghan Markle’s old website The Tig (thetig.com)

Harry was asked by Newsweek during an interview last year whether he worried that too much “ordinary” might make the royal family too accessible and take away its mystery, he responded: “It’s a tricky balancing act.

“We don’t want to dilute the magic…. The British public and the whole world need institutions like it.”

Royal editor Camilla Tominey adds that the royals cannot be seen to be invading their own privacy.

And given that the young royals have been looking at the impact of social media on mental health, and with William urging tech companies to do more to help combat cyberbullying, it’s unlikely that we’ll see them have their own personal accounts in the near future.


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