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Seven weeks ago, Harry and Meghan launched their own Instagram account
The couple used to share the Kensington Palace account with William and Kate
Ever since, there has been a dizzying array of posts from both accounts

Published: 17:08 EDT, 20 May 2019 | Updated: 20:26 EDT, 20 May 2019

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Once, they were ‘the fab four’ — Wills and Kate, and Meghan and Harry all living at Kensington Palace, all sharing a single Instagram account.

Then came the announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were to form their own household and move to Frogmore Cottage in Berkshire.

And seven weeks ago, @SussexRoyal appeared on Instagram — a rival, if you like, to the long-standing @KensingtonRoyal.

Ever since, there have been a dizzying array of posts from both accounts, creating an undoubtedly unintentional, but nevertheless highly entertaining, insta-battle.

Here, Beth Hale investigates who is winning in the right royal war of the poses.

Start: Cambridges 7.1million followers - Sussexes 8,000

1. Behind you! New kid on the Instagram block - April 2

Harry and Meghan launch Sussex Royal, reaching a record one million followers in just six hours.

SUSSEX ROYAL : The carousel of nine carefully selected images ends with an arty black-and-white shot of the couple.

Harry and Meghan launch Sussex Royal, reaching a record one million followers in just six hours

The carousel of nine carefully selected images ends with an arty black-and-white shot of the couple

Insta-stats: Within six minutes of being set up, the account had more than 8,000 followers, 1.3 million people have liked the post and more than 44,600 people have commented.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: A warm welcome is extended to the new Instagramming double act, with a reminder that fans need to follow both accounts.

Insta-stats: A commendable 7.1 million followers before the split, but what will happen now?

WINNER: SUSSEX ROYAL

2. The elephant in the room - April 4

The two brothers join their father Prince Charles and Sir David Attenborough at the Natural History Museum for the premiere of Netflix documentary Our Planet. It’s game on, as both houses post about the event.

SUSSEX ROYAL: Harry and Meghan’s team fire off four images and a video, starting with a respectful black and white one of the four men at the premiere.

The two brothers join their father Prince Charles and Sir David Attenborough at the Natural History Museum for the premiere of Netflix documentary Our Planet

Then comes the Insta-game winning shot: a previously unseen photograph of Meghan and Harry attaching a tracking collar to an elephant in Botswana.

Insta-stats: The new account has already got more than two million followers, 447,000 of them liking the new post,

KENSINGTON ROYAL: Team Wills and Kate choose a different black and white shot of the line-up, then another seven images, including a video of Prince William interviewing Sir David in Davos.

Then comes the Insta-game winning shot: a previously unseen photograph of Meghan and Harry attaching a tracking collar to an elephant in Botswana

Insta-stats: Nothing beats getting down in the scrub with a bull elephant; the Wills video has just 237,000 likes in comparison.

WINNER: SUSSEX ROYAL

3. Sorry, Wills, you’re not licensed to thrill - April 7

William experiences life as 007 versus preparations for an imminent royal arrival.

SUSSEX ROYAL: The parents-to-be have made a series of posts highlighting charities they would like people to donate to, in lieu of gifts for the baby; today it’s WellChild, a charity Harry has been patron of since 2007. Meghan is in the photo with him.

A shot of William looking serious, announcing he’s ended a three-week attachment with the security services

The parents-to-be have made a series of posts highlighting charities they would like people to donate to, in lieu of gifts for the baby; today it’s WellChild, a charity Harry has been patron of since 2007. Meghan is in the photo with him

Insta-stats: A respectable 396,000 likes, 4.1 million people are now following the account, and several thousand new followers for each charity.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: A shot of William looking serious, announcing he’s ended a three-week attachment with the security services.

Insta-stats: Worthy, but dull, the post gets 113,000 likes and the account nudges up to 7.5 million.

WINNER: SUSSEX ROYAL

4. Balcony shots with Granny - April 21

The Queen’s birthday and they adopt very different approaches to this milestone.

SUSSEX ROYAL: ‘Happy Birthday Your Majesty. Ma’am, Granny. Wishing you the most wonderful day!’ declare the couple, complete with — gasp! — a balloon emoji.

Harry and Meghan write on their Sussex Royal account for the Queen's birthday: ‘ Happy Birthday Your Majesty. Ma’am, Granny. Wishing you the most wonderful day!’ declare the couple, complete with — gasp! — a balloon emoji'

Insta-stats: Seven photos, 836,207 likes.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: A family photo — William, Kate, George and Charlotte with the Queen and other family members on the Palace balcony.

Insta-stats: One picture, but 852,720 likes and a new high of 7.7 million followers.

But William and Kate go for a family photo — William, Kate, George and Charlotte with the Queen and other family members on the Palace balcony

WINNER: KENSINGTON ROYAL

5. Louis charms the wildlife lovers - April 22

Prince Louis is one tomorrow — but who’s that posting limelight-grabbing wildlife shots just before the big day?

SUSSEX ROYAL: Nine photos, eight taken by Harry, to mark Earth Day, landed on the Instagram feed hours before William and Kate published new images — taken by Kate — to mark Louis’s first birthday.

A black and white shot of a rhino bags the Sussexes more than 700,000 likes and the account hits 4.9million followers

Insta-stats: A moody shot of a rhino lands the Sussexes 771,078 likes and the account has hit 4.9 million followers.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: It’s not Louis’ birthday until tomorrow, but a big day requires preparation and three delightfully gummy pictures of the Prince are a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

Insta-stats: Prince Louis lands 1.5 million likes and the account now has 7.7 million followers.

WINNER: KENSINGTON ROYAL

6. A historic photo with the Queen - May 6-8

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcome their first-born child.

SUSSEX ROYAL: An ‘It’s a boy’ post and a video of Prince Harry sharing his joy; two days later photos of the new mum looking amazing and the charmingly relaxed black-and-white image of them with the Queen, Prince Philip and Meghan’s mum Doria.

The charmingly relaxed black-and-white image of them with the Queen, Prince Philip and Meghan’s mum Doria

William and Kate welcome their relatives to the ‘Sleep Deprivation Society

Insta-stats: On the day of Archie’s birth the account has 6.2 million followers, rising to 7.1 million by the day he makes his first public appearance, with 2.8 million likes for the announcement post, 1.6 milllion views of Harry’s video and 2.9 million for the black-and-white shot.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: William and Kate welcome their relatives to the ‘Sleep Deprivation Society’, before posts return to business: launching the King’s Cup to raise funds for charities they support.

Insta-stats: The video scoops a massive 4.9 million views and the account garners 8.4 million followers.

WINNER: IT’S A DRAW!

7. William ‘out-shouts’ brother Harry - May 10

The Heads Together campaign was launched by William, Harry and Kate in May 2016.

Today, both houses are promoting the launch of a new textline service ‘Shout’, supporting people who need help in times of crisis.

The Heads Together campaign was launched by William, Harry and Kate in May 2016. On May 10, both houses are promoting the launch of a new textline service ‘Shout’, supporting people who need help in times of crisis

Sussex Royal release a photo montage, starting with Harry on stage in November

SUSSEX ROYAL: Another photo montage, starting with Harry on stage in November.

Insta-stats: 290,000 likes, a sterling effort for a post free from children and animals.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: This time it’s a montage, too, starting with William and member of the Shout team, with a separate video.

Insta-stats: Only 121,000 likes for the pictures, but 670,000 views of the video.

WINNER: KENSINGTON ROYAL, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE VIDEO VIEWS

8. We still love that Royal Wedding - May 19

Today is Meghan and Harry’s first wedding anniversary, but it’s also the day the media get a sneak preview of Kate’s first stunning garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Today is Meghan and Harry’s first wedding anniversary, but it’s also the day the media get a sneak preview of Kate’s first stunning garden for the Chelsea Flower Show

Harry and Meghan post a montage of unseen wedding images, which get six million views

SUSSEX ROYAL: A montage, set to music, of unseen wedding images.

Insta-stats: Six million views, @sussexroyal has 8.2 million followers.

KENSINGTON ROYAL: George and Charlotte barefoot in a brook, Louis on a rope swing and displaying his walking prowess — an Insta-hit.

Insta-stats: Louis scoops a million likes; 8.9 million followers.

WINNER: SUSSEX ROYAL

OVERALL WINNER: Sussex Royal. While Kensington Palace is still ahead in followers, Sussex Royal’s record-breaking growth makes it the undoubted Insta-champion.

Today: Cambridges 8.9million followers - Sussex 8.2million