How Meghan Markle’s Life Has Changed Since Deleting Her Social Media Accounts

2018 was a very big year for Meghan Markle, and it all truly started after she made the big move of deleting her personal social media accounts in preparation for her new life as a royal.

On Jan. 9, 2018, it was revealed that Markle had deleted both her personal Twitter and Instagram accounts completely, which was an expected move following news in November 2017 that she was going to marry Prince Harry. She hadn’t posted to those accounts for a while, staying off of them as her relationship was revealed, but the official act of removing them completely symbolized the first step in her royal transformation.

Since then, many other aspects of Meghan Markle’s life have changed. Not only did she marry Prince Harry on May 19 in a televised and publicized ceremony, but the couple also announced the news in October that they were going to be welcoming their first child together in the spring. With their increased roles in the monarchy as the spotlight shifts to the future of the institution, the pair has been in the spotlight more than ever, which unfortunately hasn’t always been a good thing for the Duchess of Sussex.

In recent months, Markle has repeatedly come under attack in press reports over a variety of issues, including a reported feud with Kate Middleton that dated back to before her May nuptials, as well as reports that several of her personal staffers had quit working for her due to her alleged demands. In addition, there has been a never-ending onslaught of interviews that her father, Thomas Markle, and half-sister, Samantha Markle, have constantly given where they too have slammed her.

While celebrities will sometimes take to their social media accounts to refute false stories about themselves, Markle has been unable to do so, and as a result, has remained silent in the face of so many stories. Though Kensington Palace did reportedly issue a statement about the stories of a feud with Middleton, there hasn’t been much chance for Markle to defend herself at all.

It’s also been reported that her not addressing some reports about herself has led to some other issues, and even caused some tension with Queen Elizabeth II, specifically when it came to the Duchess’ family.

“Buckingham Palace wanted to be able to do something and be proactive and make the situation go away. It was a direction from the Queen, so her courtiers were under strict instructions to sort it out,” a source told Vanity Fair in December. “But Kensington Palace was not singing from the same hymn sheet, and that was because the message was coming from Meghan. She didn’t want to engage and thought that she could handle it on her own. There was a lot of tension between courtiers within the two royal households, and I think it just got to a point where it was stalemate, and, you know, neither could move.”

However, since the royal family only uses the official accounts for Kensington Palace and Clarence House to address rumors and make official announcements, it appears Markle’s true feelings regarding stories about her will remain a mystery.