Meghan Markle’s New Kids’ Book Explores the Bond Between Fathers and Sons

Meghan Markle’s first children’s book is out—and it’s already a #1 Bestseller in children’s books on Amazon!

The Bench, released on Tuesday, June 8, explores the relationship between sons and their fathers, as seen through a mother’s eyes. It’s inspired by a Father’s Day poem Meghan wrote for Harry shortly after welcoming their first child, Archie, in 2019. The book is even dedicated to them both, as the dedication reads, “For the man and the boy who make my heart go pump-pump.”

“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” Meghan wrote in the press release. “That poem became this story. Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolor illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens. My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.”

The book’s illustrations are by Caldecott-winning and best-selling artist Christian Robinson and show a diverse makeup of families. Some illustrations show Meghan’s own family—including their newest arrival, a baby girl named Lili. In one of the illustrations, we see Harry sitting on the bench feeding chickens with Archie, meanwhile Meghan stands in the garden wearing a baby, whose tiny face is peeking out over her shoulder. Also included in the book are their pets, a beagle named Guy and a black lab named Pula.

The Bench ends with an author bio of Meghan that reads, “Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, is a mother, wife, feminist, and activist. Through the nonprofit work of the Archewell Foundation, she and her husband are committed to activating compassion in communities across the world. She currently resides in her home state of California with her family, two dogs, and a growing flock of rescue chickens."

The Bench is available now on Amazon.com.