For the most part, the British Royal Family's participation in social media was nearly nonexistant.

Historically, their brand and identities have been carefully shaped and presented to the public. Everything from what they wore, to when they waved was accompanied by protocal that has been strictly followed.

For decades, the public image has been maintained through more-or-less controlled interaction with media and the family's public relations advisors.

But, in the age of social media, it can be hard to resist the lure of Facebook, Instagram and even Twitter.

In 2009, the Royal Family joined Twitter - or rather, Buckingham Palace did. The official account was set up to alert royal watchers to news about the family. Unfortunately, Her Majesty is not the one doing the tweeting.

A year later, the Queen gave the offical approval for her new Facebook page. However, fans can't poke her Majesty, nor can they add her as a friend. Again, the page is carefully managed by communications staff at Buckingham Palace.

In 2015, Kensington Palace jumped on the Instagram bandwagon with the Prince Harry being the first Royal to appear in photos on the account.

But this wasn't the first time Harry appeared on a social media account, except this one wasn't Royal-related...

Before the official Royal Family Facebook account, in 2012 there was another 'unauthorized' Royal Facebook page. Only those with priveleged information knew to whom it belonged and the real identity behind the name 'Spike Wells.'

Before his Facebook page disappeared, Wells had over 400 friends that included many of Britain's wealthiest young men and women.

It didn't take long for royal watchers to put two and two together. It was noted that Spike Wells Facebook page was deleted not long after Prince Harry's official Facebook page came down.

About two years later, while promoting the Invictus Games, Harry admitted that he was indeed the mysterious Spike Wells.

The experience seems to have had an impact. When asked about how he felt about social media - Twitter in particular - the prince seems to have changed his mind:

"The issue for myself and my family, put quite simply, is that it's very hard for me to tweet about the Invictus Games and tweet about something that means a lot to me," he told The Daily Mail,

"Whereas I, at the same time, really quite hate Twitter by the invasion of privacy. I think you all understand what I'm talking about."

[h/t The Telegraph/ Telegraph/ International Business Times / Observer]