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Meghan Markle's First Children's Book, The Bench

Meghan Markle Debuts First Children's Book, Based on a Father's Day Poem She Wrote For Prince Harry

Meghan Markle's First Children's Book, The Bench
Image Sources: Amazon and Getty / Pool/Samir Hussein

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Meghan Markle is publishing her very first children's book.

The Bench, which explores the evolving bond between fathers and sons as seen through a mother's eyes, will be published on 8 June, just in time for Father's Day.

In fact, the Duchess of Sussex — who is mother to 2-year-old Archie and pregnant with a baby girl, due this summer — explained that the picture book was inspired by a Father's Day poem she wrote for Prince Harry.

"The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born," Meghan said in a statement released by publisher Random House Children's Books. "That poem became this story."

In an excerpt released by Amazon, the story begins with the titular bench:

This is your bench
Where you'll witness great joy.
From here you will rest
See the growth of our boy.

In the press release, Meghan is described as "a mother, wife, feminist, and activist" who "currently resides in her home state of California with her family, two dogs, and a growing flock of rescue chickens."

The book is illustrated by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Christian Robinson.

"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," Meghan said in the statement.

Her debut book aims to offer readers a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons — moments of reflection, trust, discovery, and comfort. As Meghan said: "My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine."

The Bench ($19) is available for preorder now. Read on for a preview of a few of the book's interior pages.

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