What does your 2016 throwback look like? Lately, social media has been filled with photos from nights out, skinny jeans, and outfits dominated by millennial pink. Pop culture was defined by Beyoncé’s Lemonade and La La Land, while creative directors like Alessandro Michele at Gucci, Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent, and Phoebe Philo at Céline set the tone. Feeling nostalgic? For Meghan Markle, that year represented a completely different life.

The Duchess of Sussex recently joined the trend by sharing her own throwback on Instagram. In a carousel post yesterday (January 16), Meghan included a black-and-white video from the present day, showing her dancing in a field with her husband, Prince Harry. She revealed in the caption that the clip was filmed by their four-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet.

The second slide is a photo of the couple in 2016, likely taken during their trip to Botswana that year—which was also their third date ever. In the image, they embrace while standing knee-deep in water, surrounded by grasslands.

“When 2026 feels just like 2016… you had to be there,” Meghan wrote.

2016 was the year Meghan Markle and Prince Harry first met, set up on a blind date by mutual friends in early July. They dated secretly for about six months before their relationship became public. In a Vanity Fair interview around the time of their engagement, Harry shared that he invited Meghan to join him in Botswana later that summer after they had been seeing each other in London.

“We camped out with each other under the stars,” he recalled. “She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic. So then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to know each other.” It was during this trip that he realized she was his soulmate.

Reflecting on the invitation during their Harry & Meghan docuseries, Harry said, “I was astonished that she said, ‘Yes.’ This woman, that I’ve really met twice… she’s coming to Botswana, and we’re gonna be living in a tent for five days!”

The couple announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, and married on May 19, 2018. They stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Now, a decade into their love story, much has changed—and their lives have been under even greater scrutiny.

Meghan wrapped up 2025 with a holiday special of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, where she shared favorite holiday traditions, seasonal crafts, and family recipes. Highlights included a fig slice-adorned Christmas tree, making cacio e pepe gougères for restaurateur Will Guidara, and a heartfelt conversation with tennis star Naomi Osaka. The couple also released a holiday card, pictured embracing their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, surrounded by greenery.

With 2025 marking a year of growing influence and a notable style evolution, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Meghan stepping into new realms once again. Who knows—we might even see her climbing the steps of the 2026 Met Gala in a custom Balenciaga gown in just a few months.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Meghan Markle sharing a throwback photo and joining the 2016 nostalgia trend

Beginner General Questions

1 What exactly did Meghan Markle do
Meghan Markle the Duchess of Sussex shared a previously unseen photo of herself from 2016 on the website of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard The photo was part of a blog post reflecting on that year

2 What is the 2016 nostalgia trend
Its a popular trend on social media where people look back fondly on the culture fashion music and memes from 2016 Its driven by a sense of nostalgia for a prepandemic seemingly simpler time

3 Why is 2016 specifically such a big deal for her
2016 was a pivotal year for Meghan It was the year she began dating Prince Harry she filmed the final season of Suits and her public life changed dramatically

4 Where did she post the photo
She posted it on the blog section of her new brands website americanrivieraorchardcom not on her personal social media

Advanced Analytical Questions

5 Why would she join this trend now Whats the strategy
Analysts see it as a savvy branding and relatability move It connects her personal journey to a widespread cultural moment makes her seem accessible and drives traffic to her new brands platform by tapping into a viral trend

6 Is this connected to her new brand American Riviera Orchard
Yes directly The photo and post were published on that brands site The content aligns with the brands likely focus on lifestyle personal reflection and building a community around her tastes and experiences

7 How does this fit into her current public relations approach
It reflects a move away from traditional royal communication Shes controlling her own narrative engaging directly with the public on her terms and blending personal storytelling with commercial ventures

8 What was the public and media reaction
Reactions were mixed Many fans found it relatable and enjoyed the glimpse into her past Some critics viewed it as a calculated PR move or questioned the timing It successfully generated significant media coverage and online discussion