The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hit 11.3 million followers on Instagram, catching up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just a few days after they fell behind them by 100,000 followers.
Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, who run Sussex Royal, had seen their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January, but over the past week were overtaken by the Cambridges’ Kensington Royal account.
But just days after their final engagement before they step down as senior royals at the end of the month, the couple, who are retreating to Canada, have now caught up with Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 38.
This is despite the Cambridges’ account Kensington Royal being around for much longer, while the Sussexes only started their account last April.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (seen at the Commonwealth Day Service this week) have hit 11.3 million followers on Instagram , catching up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just a few days after they fell behind them by 100,000 followers
Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle , 38, who run Sussex Royal, had seen their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January, but over the past week were overtaken by the Cambridges’ Kensington Royal account.
The Sussexes’ surge in followers comes after their final week of royal duties, which saw them attend the Endeavour Awards, the Mountbatten Festival of Music and Commonwealth Day Service.
Meghan and Harry were also seen attending church service with the Queen, and visiting The National Theatre and Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham.
The couple apparently bid a tearful farewell to their staff during an intimate dinner, and Meghan has returned to Canada to be with baby Archie.
just days after their final engagement before they step down as senior royals at the end of the month, the couple, who are retreating to Canada , have now caught up with Prince William , 37, and Kate Middleton, 38, seen at the Commonwealth Day Service this week
The Cambridges, seen, briefly overtook the couple by 100,000 followers but they two couples are now even
A look at their respective Instagram accounts shows that while Kate and William have shared 2,034 posts, Harry and Meghan have only posted 185 times since last April.
The Kensington Royal account gets an average of 300,000 likes for their posts, with statement posts including Kate Middleton’s birthday racking up 1.2 million likes.
Meanwhile Sussex Royal gets a similar average, but their recent post announcing they would be stepping down garnered almost 2 million likes from supportive fans.
While William and Kate’s account follows just under 100 people, Harry and Meghan follow new accounts each month to highlight charitable causes – this month following just one account which promotes positive news.
In January night the Duke of Sussex has said he is ‘taking a leap of faith’ in stepping back from his life as a member of the royal family, but ‘there really was no other option’
Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle , 38, who run Sussex Royal, saw their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January
This is despite the Cambridges’ account Kensington Royal being around for much longer, while the Sussexes only started their account last April. They stood at 11m in January
In January, the Duke of Sussex said he is ‘taking a leap of faith’ in stepping back from his life as a member of the royal family, but ‘there really was no other option’.
Harry gave an emotional speech, where he told the ‘truth’ about leaving royal duties behind in a bid for a ‘more peaceful life’ for his family.
From the spring, the duke and duchess will stop using HRH, spend the majority of their time living in Canada, and pay back the taxpayers’ money spent renovating their Frogmore home.
In a speech at a private event for his charity Sentebale on Sunday night, Harry told invited guests: ‘What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.
‘Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
‘I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am.
‘But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.’
In January the duke that said from the spring, the duke and duchess will stop using HRH, spend the majority of their time living in Canada (seen in Vancouver)