Meghan Markle will soon add "children's author" to her credentials as she announced the release of her first children's book, The Bench, as inspired by Prince Harry and Archie.
The Duchess of Sussex said in a statement that The Bench has been based on a poem she wrote for Harry for his first Father's Day. Random House Children's Book will be publishing Markle's story with illustrations from award-winning artist Christian Robinson.
According to the press release, Meghan Markle hopes that the book will resonate "with every family, no matter the makeup." From some of the sample pages, the story seems to revolve around a diverse relationship between fathers and sons as they form a bond filled with trust, comfort and nurturing.
However, some royal fans have expressed that Markle's book cover seems similar to The Boy on the Bench from author Corrinne Averiss, which was released in 2018. Defenders of the Duchess of Sussex said that there are plenty of children's books with benches on the cover but the stories are different.
The Duchess of Sussex is not the first royal to have written a children's book. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has made a living writing books for children, which landed on the New York Times bestseller list. Ferguson's books have also been made into an animated TV series.
Prince Charles also published a children's book in the 1980s titled The Old Man of Lochnagar. It's about an old man who lives in the caves beyond the cliffs overlooking Balmoral, the royal family's summer home. BBC later made an animated film about this book and was briefly turned into a musical stage play.
Meanwhile, Meghan's children's book could be the start of her career as an author. As a child, the Duchess of Sussex wanted to be a journalist or publish her own stories. Sources said that if The Bench becomes a successful venture, Meghan could be releasing more books for both children and adults.
Random House won't divulge how much Meghan will receive from this book deal or if the proceeds of the sale will go to charity. Mallory Loerh, the publisher, said that they signed on the duchess because they believe that The Bench has a timeless story that will be read for generations to come.
No plans have been revealed if Meghan Markle will go on a book tour to promote the book's release. She's expecting the birth of her daughter in the summer and hasn't been seen in public as she marks the last trimester of her pregnancy.
