Why Meghan and Harry’s Instagram doesn’t follow royal family accounts

A glance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Instagram account, Sussex Royal (@sussexroyal) shows that the couple only follows 16 accounts, and none of them belong to their family members.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry. Image: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Their social media page launched in April no longer follows Kensington Royal (@kensingtonroyal), which belongs to Prince William and Kate Middleton, Clarence House (@clarencehouse) of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, and The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) which features Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members.

The mass unfollowing of royal family accounts is for a good cause. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s latest post on Wednesday, May 1, explained that it would change the accounts that it follows every month “based on a different theme or cause.”

This May, the Sussexes are promoting mental health awareness and chose 16 Instagram accounts which advocate “mental well-being, mental fitness, body positivity, self-care, and the importance of human connection.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw5aC5wh073/

Among the promoted accounts are Heads Together, William, Kate and Harry’s initiative for mental health; I Weigh, actress Jameela Jamil’s movement to recognize women’s self-worth; Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul Sunday series.

Prince Harry and Winfrey are collaborating on a TV show on mental health under the Apple TV platform. JB

RELATED STORIES:

Instagram stars: Harry, Meghan fastest to hit 1 million fans

Prince Harry asked for privacy as he consoled boy grieving loss of dad—report