Meghan Markle interview for new book The Bench reveals son Archie loves reading

Meghan Markle has revealed son Archie’s reaction to her new children’s book in her first interview since the birth of daughter Lilibet.

Meghan Markle has given her first interview since the birth of her daughter Lilibet Diana, but the interview isn’t about mother and daughter. It’s about father and son.

Sunday 20 June is Father’s Day in the US, and two years ago when he first became a father to baby Archie, Prince Harry was given a unique gift by Meghan: a bench.

“As most of us do, you go, what am I going to get them as a gift? And I thought I just wanted something sentimental and a place for him to have as a bit of a home base with our son,” Meghan told NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday: Picture This. 

On the back of the bench was a plaque with a poem Meghan had written:

“This is your bench, Where life will begin, For you and our son, Our baby, our kin.”

A detail from the children's book 'The Bench' by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, which is inspired by her husband Harry and her son Archie. Picture: AFP

'The Bench' by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, features a character who looks like Prince Harry. Picture: AFP

That gift from Meghan to Harry blossomed into the idea for a children’s book.

The Bench depicts different types of fathers and sons bonding over activities near or on the bench such as waiting for the school bus, putting on their shoes, and other experiences.

Meghan revealed the poem, and then the book, was inspired by watching Harry and their son, Archie, together. The first main image in the book is an illustration of a character who appears to be Harry holding baby Archie. The book’s storytelling and illustrations are snapshots of everyday shared moments between parent and child. 

Picture posted from the @dukeandduchessofcambridge Instagram profile congratulating Meghan and Harry on their new baby. Picture: Instagram

“I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realised how much happens in the quiet,” Meghan said. “In the story I’m observing this love happening between my husband and our son and imagining what it will be as they have more shared moments as our son gets older...”

Whether that moment is “scraping a knee” or “getting a heart broken,” the bench is the place they would “reset” explained Meghan.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was inspired to write a children’s book after watching her husband Harry with their son Archie. Picture: AFP

“It was definitely moments like that, watching them from out of the window and watching [my husband] just, you know, rock him to sleep or carry him or, you know … those lived experiences, from my observation, are the things that I infused in this poem.”

“This is your bench, Where you’ll witness great joy,” Meghan has written in the beginning of the book. “From here you will rest, See the growth of our boy.”

Meghan Markle was inspired to write the poem and the book after watching her husband Prince Harry with Archie. Picture: Instagram

To complement her words Meghan chose illustrator Christian Robinson who she asked to work in watercolours rather than his usual acrylic paint. 

“I wanted him to just try something a little bit new and work in watercolour,” Meghan laughed, knowing she might be pushing Robinson’s creative boundaries. “And that was specifically because I just felt that when you talk about masculinity and you talk about fatherhood, it can often not come across with the same softness that I was really after for this book. And I just wanted this to feel almost ethereal and light and Christian was able to use that medium and create the most beautiful images.”

The first page, which seems to depict Harry holding his son, includes a nod to his late mother, Princess Diana, with a patch of forget-me-not flowers, her favourites.

“I think you can find sweet little moments that we hid in there - of my favourite flower, even my husband’s mom’s favourite flower, forget-me-nots.,” Meghan said.

“We wanted to make sure those were included in there. There are many, many special details and love that went into this book.’

Illustrations are in “ethereal” watercolour by Christian Robinson for Random House Children's Books. Picture: Supplied

Also important to Meghan was diversity and inclusion in representation to show different types of fathers and sons from modern families. 

There’s even a father and son stretching on the bench while wearing pink tutus.

Meghan revealed that choosing the illustrations made even her think about what diversity means - “It’s not just black and white,” she stated.

“Growing up, I remember so much how it felt to not see yourself represented,” said Meghan. “So any child or any family hopefully can open this book and see themselves in it, whether that means glasses or freckled or a different body shape or a different ethnicity or religion.”

Meghan was also careful to include many personal touches such as her favourite flower, her mother-in-law’s favourite flower, the family dogs – and even their rescue chickens. 

But mostly, Meghan has taken what started as a deeply personal message to her husband, universal.

“It’s such a personal story,” she revealed.

The children’s book is “a love story”, reveals Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP

“It’s a love story,” Meghan said. “It’s really just about growing with someone and having this deep connection and this trust so that, be at good times or bad, you know that you had this person,” she says. “I really hope that people can see this as a love story that transcends the story of my family.”

And what does Archie think of the book?

“Archie loves the book! He has a voracious appetite for books and constantly when we read him a book he goes, Again, again, again!’ But now the fact that he loves The Bench and we can say, ‘Mummy wrote this for you’ feels amazing.”

Listen to the full eight-minute interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex here.

Originally published as Meghan Markle interview for new book The Bench reveals son Archie loves reading