Meghan Markle Hits Major Instagram Milestone Just 1 Day After Unveiling Account

Meghan Markle's namesake Instagram account has attracted 1 million followers in the first 24 hours since she published her first post.

On Jan. 2, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, garnered 1 million followers on her @meghan Instagram page that she launched on New Year's Day. A click into the page's "About this account" tab revealed that the verified account was created in June 2022, though Meghan didn't post for the first time until Jan. 1.

The Duchess of Sussex kicked off the new year in a major way by posting on a public Instagram account for the first time in years. The first post on the page was a video of Meghan shot by Prince Harry and showed her running on the beach to write "2025" in the sand. PEOPLE understands the video was captured at a beach by Harry near their Montecito, California home, where the couple lives with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

PEOPLE understands that the Duchess of Sussex is excited to return to social media as a way to reconnect with communities worldwide and share updates about what she's working on, eager to lead by example in using social media to spark joy and positive connection. While she hinted at an Instagram return by launching the American Riviera Orchard profile (and website) in March 2024, the account has not published any posts yet and both landing pages remain the same.

Related: Meghan Markle's Instagram Return Accidentally Features a Very Relatable 'Oops' Moment: See the Close-Up

A close look showed that Meghan's debut post included a relatable social media move — a little practice for the perfect shot! The video opened with footage of Meghan running on the beach towards the sea, and a lookalike "2025" to the one she wrote with her hand in the sand later in the snippet was spotted to the side. The subtle detail hinted that she had attempted at least two takes to get it just right, with her careful handwriting calling back to her previous job as a calligrapher.

On Jan. 2, the Duchess of Sussex surprised with a second post on her @meghan account and shared the official trailer for her upcoming Netflix series titled With Love, Meghan. Meghan served as both host and executive producer for the lifestyle show, which will premiere in eight episodes on Jan. 15.

"I have been so excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it," Meghan wrote below the video. "Wishing you all a fantastic new year! Thanks to our amazing crew and the team @netflix. Beyond grateful for the support — and fun! As ever, Meghan."

Set to the song "Do You Believe in Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful, the trailer showed Meghan cooking, gardening, flower shopping, beekeeping and baking with friends including Mindy Kaling, Abigail Spencer (her former Suits costar) and Delfina Blaquier. Prince Harry, 40, also appeared in the video and wrapped his wife in a hug as they stood with champagne glasses on a sunny patio.

Related: Meghan Markle's Netflix Series, With Love, Meghan, Set to Premiere in January: All the Details!

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Netflix described the show (filmed in Montecito) as an “inspiring series, produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, that reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old."

"Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected," it continued. "She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden and beyond, and invite you to do the same."

The Duchess of Sussex is ringing in the new year on a high by revealing the series and going live with her eponymous Instagram profile. The themes highlighted in With Love, Meghan are reminiscent of the lifestyle content she spotlighted on her blog The Tig, which she ran from 2014 to 2017 while starring on Suits. She shuttered the blog in April 2017 and closed down her Instagram page the following January, shortly after her engagement to Prince Harry was publicly announced and she geared up for her royal role.

Shortly after splitting offices with Prince William and Kate Middleton in March 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan launched the Instagram profile @SussexRoyal to showcase their royal work with a personal feel. The account stopped being updated after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in 2020, and the couple has been logged offline since.

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While Meghan's new Instagram page is not following any other accounts and comments are so far disabled, her inner circle is celebrating her fresh start on social media. Photographer Jake Rosenburg — who captured the black-and-white portrait of the Duchess featured as her Instagram profile icon — praised her return with a thoughtful tribute.

"Welcome back @Meghan! Always love capturing these moments together — What a way to start the year!" the photographer captured the portrait of Meghan on his own Instagram page.

Meghan told The Cut in 2022 that she was "getting back… on Instagram." However, the outlet reported that she relayed "she was no longer sure she would actually return to Instagram" later in the conversation. 

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