Surprise! Duchess Meghan rejoins Instagram with video shot by Prince Harry

Duchess Meghan is ready to reconnect in 2025: She’s returned to Instagram.

Her eponymous new account, with the simple handle @meghan, launched on New Year’s Day with a celebratory walk on the beach.

In her first Reel, Prince Harry's wife runs toward the water, casually clad in a white button-front shirt and rolled-up slacks, her hair loose and her back to the camera. She writes “2025” in the sand and turns to flash a smile.

The account, which already has 281K followers and growing rapidly, is unverified. A source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY that the account belongs to the Duchess of Sussex, and will demonstrate how social media can bring joy and positive connection.

The source said the video was shot by Harry at a public beach near their home in Montecito, California, where they live with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

A royal Christmas: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's holiday card includes rare photo of Archie and Lilibet

In a stunning move, Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and moved to the United States. Later, in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, they alleged their departure was driven by racism within the royal family and attacks in the British tabloids.

Meghan, 43, ditched her personal Instagram account amid her courtship with Prince Harry, 40, but the pair returned to IG after they wed with @sussexroyal, a joint account run by Buckingham Palace officials.

In 2017, the "Suits" alum said goodbye to her popular lifestyle blog The Tig and its corresponding Instagram account, which chronicled her life and personal interests to millions of followers.

"After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it's time to say goodbye to The Tig," Meghan wrote at the time. "What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity.

"You've made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being 'the change you wish to see in the world.' "

She also launched a lifestyle brand account, American Riviera Orchard, @americanrivieraorchard, last March, but has made no posts since then. According to trademark documents, American Riviera Orchard sells products ranging from jams and jellies to tablecloths and tableware.

In August 2022, the former Meghan Markle opened up about a possible return to Instagram in an interview with The Cut.

"It was a big adjustment − a huge adjustment to go from that kind of autonomy to a different life," Meghan told The Cut.

Meghan revealed to The Cut that she was "getting back on Instagram" but didn't spill details on a timeline or potential handle.

Contributing: Jay Stahl and Naledi Ushe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meghan Markle rejoins Instagram and Prince Harry shot the video