A first look at Meghan Markle’s children’s book The Bench has revealed several illustrations of Prince Harry and son Archie – including one feeding their chickens while the duchess is in the garden with her dogs, as well as another showing a father and his son in pink ballet tutus.
Meghan and Harry’s daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who arrived on Friday and was announced to the world yesterday, also makes an appearance in her mother’s latest project.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, announced last month that the book is inspired by a poem she wrote for her husband on Father’s Day the month after Archie was born, and will explore the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’.
It has been released in Australia ahead of its launch in the UK tomorrow, with delighted fans from across the world taking to Twitter to share the news.
It is not known if Meghan has received an advance for the book and whether any of the proceeds will be donated to charity, but a branding expert previously suggested it would have already netted her £500,000 following a ‘bidding war to secure her first venture’.
Meghan Markle’ children’s book The Bench features illustrations of Prince Harry and son Archie feeding their chickens while the duchess is in the garden with her dogs (pictured)
The children’s book also features a drawing of a father and his son in pink ballet tutus (pictured)
The first illustration in the book is one of Prince Harry and baby Archie walking hand-in-hand together.
The Duke, recognisable with his ginger hair and beard, could be seen wearing a grey polo shirt and blue jeans.
The royal has been seen wearing a similar outfit while out and about in Los Angeles with Meghan, as well as during his time as a royal.
Meanwhile the Duke’s illustration is seen looking down at his son, who is wearing a green top and blue shorts in the picture.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, announced last month she would release the book, and said it was inspired by a poem she had written for Harry on Father’s Day the month after Archie was born and will explore the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’
It is not known if Meghan has received an advance for the book and whether any of the proceeds will be donated to charity, but a branding expert previously suggested it would have already netted her £500,000 following a ‘bidding war to secure her first venture’
The children’s book, which will be published on June 8 by Random House Children’s Books, is illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson, who was brought up by his grandmother in a one-bedroom flat also shared with his brother, two cousins and aunt.
A publicity release said Meghan, who chose to use her title on the cover of the book, wanted the story to be told through an ‘inclusive lens’ and will feature a ‘diverse group of father and sons’. Meghan will also narrate the audiobook costing $4.99 – which together with the hardback version could earn her millions from sales.
In one illustration previously released, a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap is seen holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window.
This is a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: ‘This is your bench, Where life begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin’.
The royal, who went by the pen name ‘Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’, said in a statement: ‘The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born.
In one illustration in The Bench, a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap is seen holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window (pictured)
‘That poem became this story. Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolour 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.’
Popular culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL that the Duchess of Sussex would’ve likely been paid between a £250,000 to £500,000 advance to write the book.
In authoring a children’s book she follows in the footsteps of fellow Royals Sarah, the Duchess of York, who has produced her own money-spinning series, Princess Michael of Kent and even Prince Charles, who penned a children’s book called The Old Man of Lochnagar in 1980 to raise money for the Children’s Trust.