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Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Meghan Markle's Instagram Views Compared to William and Kate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Meghan Markle's Instagram reels have had more views in 2025 than Prince William and Princess Kate's despite having far fewer followers. The Duchess of Sussex had been off social media for almost four years before her surprise return on January 1, 2025. The move came ahead of a flurry of new projects, her Netflix cooking show With Love, Meghan, her online shop As Ever and her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. Prince William and Princess Kate in front of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day service, at Westminster Abbey, in London, on March 9, 2020. Prince William and Princess Kate in front of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day service, at Westminster Abbey, in London, on March 9, 2020. Phil Harris -Why It Matters Despite her long absence from Instagram, Meghan appeared to quickly regain a substantial audience, leaving her well placed to market her businesses directly to fans. And it is doubly striking that she has quickly exceeded William and Kate's established audience, who have been consistently served videos from their royal engagements dating back years. Meghan Markle's Instagram Account The duchess posts pictures and videos connected to her lifestyle brand and Netflix show, as well as her personal life, and has 3 million followers. Her most viewed reel announced she was rebranding her online shop from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever and has had 26.9 million views since February 17. The post with the least views got 2.7 million and showed her arranging flowers set to the LL Cool J song Doin' It. Across 22 reels, she has had a total of 168 million views and an average of 7.6 million per post. Meghan's 2025 Stats Followers: 3 million Number of Reels: 22 Total Views: 168 million Top Reel: 26.9 million Average Views: 7.6 million Fewest Views: 2.7 million Prince William and Princess Kate's Instagram The Prince and Princess of Wales have had their Instagram for far longer and also post across a range of other platforms, including Twitter and YouTube. Their most viewed post of the year so far was a collaboration with science influencer Big Manny, a favorite among British parents and teenagers, which gained 17.6 million views. Next came a video released to mark Prince Louis' birthday in May, which got 11 million views and showed him playing and jumping in woodland. Their least viewed video was a post from March 11 about Prince William learning to be a soccer referee which got 1.1 million views. Their lower view count came despite having 16.8 million followers, almost six times as many as Meghan. William and Kate's 2025 Stats Followers: 16.8 million Number of Reels: 47 Total Views: 134.8 million Top Reel: 17.6 million Average Views: 2.8 million Fewest Views: 1.1 million Analysis One reason Meghan's posts gain more audience than William and Kate's despite her lower follower count may be that her Instagram is the only place to get updates directly from her. By contrast, not only do William and Kate have other social media accounts but most of their videos show royal engagements that were also covered live by British journalists and photographers from the royal rota. Their Instagram reels are therefore a stylized, more curated version of content already in the public domain, and are less frequently the original source for major announcements. For example, Meghan announced As Ever through an Instagram video, meaning news of the relaunch began with her post which was then widely cited as the source for follow up news stories. Yet, Princess Kate's announcement that she was in remission from cancer began with a press release about a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital around lunch time. This generated an initial wave of stories about her visit, at which journalists and photographers were present, followed up later by an announcement in text form that she was in remission. Separately, she posted an Instagram reel about the January 14 visit but it did not mention the key news that she was in remission, simply stating: "The work of the @royalmarsden is world-leading, pioneering and lifesaving. "It's a remarkable charity supporting advances in cancer research, treatment and care, and the work of a hospital that has done so much for so many." The Instagram reel got 4.5 million views, some way below the couple's peek of 17.6 million. Needless to say, it will have been encouraging for Meghan to see high view counts on her Instagram posts after such a long absence. Not only does she have fewer followers than William and Kate but she has also not caught up with her and Prince Harry's now defunct Sussex Royal, which had 8.8 million followers compared to Meghan's 3 million. The views on her reels, however, show that follower numbers are not the only or even the most reliable way to measure the reach of a specific account. Additionally, Meghan may well have been relieved to see she can still generate significant audience after months of negative reviews in both the American and British media. Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
UK backs Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Lammy says
FILE PHOTO: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy walks on the day of the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo RABAT - Britain's foreign minister, David Lammy, said on Sunday that the UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara. The long-frozen conflict pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands "as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute," Lammy told reporters after talks with Morocco's foreign minister. "The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict," Lammy said on a visit to Rabat. The position places Britain as the third permanent U.N. Security Council member to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following the United States and France. Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, hailed the UK's position as historic, saying it was part of "a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict."UK investments in the territory were under examination, Bourita said. The two countries signed deals to cooperate in healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure and procurement. Lammy said the deals would "ensure British businesses score big on football's biggest stage," as Morocco pushes for infrastructure investment in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan 'clung' to Harry while pregnant so she wouldn't fall over at royal events
In the final episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan candidly opened up about why, during her pregnancies, she would 'cling' to Prince Harry to make sure she didn't fall over The first series of Meghan's podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, has come to a close, with the final episode seeing Meghan sit down with the founder of SPANX, Sara Blakely. Towards the end of the wide-ranging discussion, which saw the women discuss everything from manifestation to family, Blakely discussed her new venture with the Duchess: a company called Sneex, which makes a brand new kind of hybrid shoe that combines heels with trainers. During their chat, the Duchess discussed her own experiences wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes at royal events during her first pregnancy with Prince Archie, a period of time which also saw her seriously struggle with her mental health. Meghan also admitted that in both her pregnancies, she gained quite a lot of weight - 4.6 stone or 29 kilos - which made wearing stilettos even harder. "A friend just said to me the other day, 'I just saw this picture I had forgotten about when you were so pregnant with Archie'" Meghan explained in the candid discussion, "I mean I gained 65 pounds with both pregnancies, 'and you're in these five-inch' - I always wear my five-inch pointy-toed stilettos - they're like 'You have the most enormous bump, and your tiny little ankles are bracing themselves in these high heels'. "But all of my weight was in the front, so you're just going 'How on earth am I not just tipping, you know, face-planting, I'm always clinging very closely to my husband like 'Please don't let me fall!' "Well, you created the antidote," Meghan said. During her pregnancy with Archie, Meghan was still a working royal and had to attend a myriad of high-profile events. A royal tour in Australia meant she and Harry "had to" announce her pregnancy in October 2018, they revealed in their self-titled Netflix documentary. From the Fashion Awards to the Commonwealth Day service, there were many formal events where Meghan donned her trademark stilettos, but one in particular at the Royal Albert Hall, she revealed in 2021, was also the night that she shared with Harry that she was suffering from suicidal thoughts. Meghan admitted to Oprah that she was "haunted" by photographs of the pair at the Sentebale event, which took place at one of her lowest points, particularly when seeing "how tightly his knuckles are gripped around mine". For his part, Harry has expressed regret over how he handled Meghan's admission, "What took over my feelings was my royal role. I had been trained to worry more about 'What are people gonna think if we don't go to this event? We're going to be late.' Looking back at it now, I hate myself for it.' He said in the couple's documentary series, 'What she needed from me was so much more than I was able to give." During the episode, Sara dived into why she wanted to "invent a comfortable high heel" because she never bought into the common idea that "beauty is pain" and explained that after four years of trying to make a "traditional stiletto" that was ten times more comfortable than what we're all used to, she called it quits, and made a major pivot toward a totally new kind of shoe altogether. "It was more comfortable, Meghan," Blakely explained, "but it wasn't exponentially more comfortable, so I looked at my team, of just two girls that I absolutely adore, and I, through tears, said, we're going to pull like the plug. We tried, and it's not there. "Because as someone who invents and creates products, especially if I'm going to launch a new company or brand around it, I always say I have a mental check that it needs to be 10x better than anything else out there, and it was maybe 4x better, but to me, that wasn't a big to spend my time and energy". Sara then decided to see if it were possible to "merge a sneaker with a stiletto". Meghan then shared that when launching her recent lifestyle brand - As Ever - she herself had to "pivot" away from ideas to which she had been pretty wedded about how her jams would look, realising that as she wanted to scale the size of her company, her original "charming and darling" designs of "jam hats" wouldn't be possible to implement. Over the course of her podcast series, Meghan has made a series of candid admissions during her chats with impressive female businesswomen, including the revelation that she suffered from postpartum preeclampsia, a "rare and scary" condition, which is caused by high blood pressure after birth and can potentially result in serious health issues such as organ failure or strokes. "The world doesn't know what's happening quietly,' Meghan said. 'And in the quiet, you're still trying to show up for people, mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares." Her guest Whitney responded: 'I mean, life or death, truly.' Meghan also opened up about suffering from a miscarriage in 2020, saying to one of her guests, "I'll bring this up if you are comfortable talking about it... I have spoken about the miscarriage we experienced. And I think in some parallel way, when you have to learn to detach from the thing that you have so much promise and hope for and to be able to be OK at a certain point to let something go, something go that you plan to love for a long time." Confessions of a Female Founder is Meghan's second foray into the podcasting world. It follows her first show, Archetypes, which was produced by Spotify and cancelled after one series. Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The new podcast, produced by Lemonada Media, has received a pretty mixed response from critics. One called the series "sycophantic" and another said it was "45 minutes of platitudes." However, the first episode did make the Top 10 overall podcast charts and took the number one spot amongst business podcasts, though it has since dropped off.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Commonwealth Day 2025: When is it celebrated in India? Check date, theme, history & significance
Commonwealth Day 2025: In India, Commonwealth Day 2025 will be observed on May 24. This is different from most Commonwealth countries that celebrate it on March 10, 2025. The date in India marks the birth anniversary of Queen Victoria. She was born on May 24, 1819. This shows India's historical link to the British Empire. What is Commonwealth Day 2025? Commonwealth Day 2025 will be celebrated on May 24 in India. The day brings together 56 member countries of the Commonwealth. They come together to celebrate shared values, history, and cooperation. This year, the events will focus on unity, diversity, and sustainable development. Commonwealth Day 2025 Theme: 'Together We Thrive' The official theme for Commonwealth Day 2025 is 'Together We Thrive.' It highlights unity, resilience, and shared progress. The theme celebrates the collective spirit of the 56 Commonwealth nations. It also shows the power of cooperation among people across the world. History of Commonwealth Day and Its Observance in India Commonwealth Day was originally called Empire Day. It was first celebrated in 1904. The day honoured the British Empire and Queen Victoria's birthday. In 1958, UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan renamed it Commonwealth Day. Most Commonwealth countries now observe it on the second Monday in March. But, India still celebrates it on May 24. This keeps the tradition linked to Queen Victoria's birth. Significance of Commonwealth Day 2025 for India Historical Ties: The day shows India's colonial past. It also tells the story of India's growth as an important Commonwealth member since 1947. Cultural Unity: It helps promote cultural exchange and better understanding among Commonwealth countries. Global Cooperation: India uses the Commonwealth to support diplomacy, trade, and deal with global issues like climate change. Youth and Development: The day highlights youth empowerment and sustainable development, matching the Commonwealth's values. How is Commonwealth Day Celebrated in India? In India, Commonwealth Day is celebrated by: Educational programs that teach about the Commonwealth's values. Cultural events that show India's diverse heritage and its ties to the Commonwealth. Ceremonies honouring Queen Victoria's legacy and the day's historical importance. Commonwealth Day 2025: Key Facts and Dates Below are the important facts and dates for Commonwealth day 2025 listed:
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William Will Be the ‘Toughest Ruler' the Royal Family ‘Has Ever Seen' as He Clashes With King Charles
They've both been going about their business as usual. In the past few months, King Charles and Prince William carried out packed schedules — making official visits to Italy and Estonia, respectively, with William also filling in for his father at the pope's funeral in Rome in April — while occasionally crossing paths for events like Commonwealth Day in March. But William and Princess Kate Middleton's decision to skip a private Easter celebration with the rest of the royals raised eyebrows, with many reports suggesting that the king defied his son's wishes by inviting Charles' scandal-plagued brother Prince Andrew. A week later, Meghan Markle's continued usage of the HRH title caused a fuss, with the Daily Beast reporting that an 'enraged' William would put a stop to such insolence when he's king — and that a too-complacent Charles has 'lost control.' There's no doubt William has been flexing his muscles, especially in the wake of Charles' cancer diagnosis. 'William's voice and influence have become louder and more pronounced in recent years,' former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells In Touch. 'He is now very much the king in waiting, and his views of how the monarchy should adapt and evolve are being listened to.' And while some insiders insist father and son simply have opposing opinions on how to handle certain hot-button issues, others claim the royal rift goes much deeper — and a tense battle over the crown is underway. As Omid Scobie wrote in his 2023 book, Endgame, the 'brewing power struggle between the favored prince and the unpopular king is Shakespearean — a familial tug-of-war waged both onstage and off that has the potential to unravel the monarchical tapestry.' Their ideas about managing wayward royals are at the heart of the conflict. 'I believe William was a significant voice in how Prince Harry and Meghan should be treated, and also in how his uncle, Andrew, should be dealt with,' Bond tells In Touch, acknowledging that Charles, 76, may be more forgiving on both counts. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams agrees that William's approach to Harry has 'hardened considerably after the way the Sussexes have attacked the royal family' and tells In Touch that Charles has 'a certain empathy' for his little brother 'which William does not share.' Charles has even reportedly sided with Andrew over William in the past. In Endgame, Scobie suggested that William, 42, was 'irked' by how Charles and Andrew manipulated Queen Elizabeth II into firing a trusted aide back in 2017, removing the one person who many courtiers believed could have handled Megxit in 2020 without destroying the family. 'It may be that the King regrets' that decision in hindsight, agrees Fitzwilliams. And yet by many accounts, the scheming behind palace walls continued. Scobie also alleged in Endgame that Charles, 'jealous of Harry's popularity with the media and William's preferred status in the Firm, has been known to turn a blind eye while aides leak details about his sons to the press,' and the 'tussle for the spotlight has only heightened since Charles became king.' Harry made similar claims in Spare, and Scobie has pointed out that the scandals stirred up by headlines detract from the real story 'that's sort of playing out under our noses,' he told Business Insider in 2023. 'I've really noticed this kind of growing divide between Charles and William.' Their goals are not necessarily aligned. 'Their style is different, so are their ages. William will want a changed monarchy which appeals in the future in a different way,' Fitzwiliams tells In Touch. Compared to his father, William is already said to be 'more diplomatic' says Fitzwilliams, and 'informal,' says Bond. The one person who's caught in the middle? Princess Kate, 43. 'She is solution-focused and is certainly the glue' that holds William and Charles together when they don't 'see eye-to-eye,' royal broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News earlier this year, while royal author Robert Jobson called her a 'stabilizing influence' on William in his 2024 book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales. Most insiders agree that she's helped William prioritize family over duty, which will likely continue when they become king and queen. And while Bond insists he's in no rush to formally take the throne, William has started making plans. He famously told reporters last year that he wanted to put 'a smaller 'r' in the Royal.' Behind the scenes, he's already taking charge, a royal insider recently told In Touch. 'As soon as Charles bestowed more responsibility on him, William seized the opportunity to make decisions that he feels will benefit the Crown,' said the insider, adding that he's focused on 'trimming the fat' and monitoring spending like never before. 'The word is he's already on his way to being the toughest ruler the family has ever seen.' Charles knows that most people — even at the palace — are eagerly anticipating William's reign, which only 'adds insult to injury,' Scobie wrote in Endgame, in which he quotes a source as saying that even William sees his father as a 'transitional monarch, paving the way for his arrival.'
