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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

Meghan Markle’s book The Bench being stocked by discount giant The Works

Meghan Markle’s children's book The Bench is now being stocked by discount store The Works.

The shop is flogging the book for £10 – three quid off its original price.

It was first released by publishers last month and was inspired by the relationships formed between a father and child - including that of her husband Harry and their son Archie;

The Bench comes 50 th in "Children’s eBooks on Values" and 107 in "Children's People & Places Books".

In a statement on the Archewell site, which marked The Bench becoming a New York Times bestseller, she thanked readers for their support.

Reflecting on the book which she wrote as “a love letter” to Prince Harry and their young son Archie, the Duchess of Sussex added that she was encouraged by the appreciation of the books' themes of “love, representation and inclusivity”.

The Bench comes 50 th in "Children’s eBooks on Values" and 107 in "Children's People & Places Books". (Penguin Random House via REUTERS)

The Duchess, who gave birth to the couple’s second child, Lilibet, earlier this month said: “While this poem began as a love letter to my husband and son, I’m encouraged to see that its universal themes of love, representation and inclusivity are resonating with communities everywhere."

She added: “In many ways, pursuing a more compassionate and equitable world begins with these core values.

“Equally, to depict another side of masculinity — one grounded in connection, emotion, and softness — is to model a world that so many would like to see for their sons and daughters alike.

The book is inspired by the relationships between a father and his child (Penguin Random House via REUTERS)

“Thank you for supporting me in this special project.”

While the book is number one on The New York Times Bestseller list for children’s books, it has not fared so well in the UK.

It failed to make the UK Official Top 50 chart after selling only 3,212 copies in its first week.

However, it did top the charts to become the best-selling picture book, selling 500 more copies than well-loved author Julia Donaldson’s What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.

The Bench was partly inspired by their son Archie (PA)

The Bench was inspired by a poem the Duchess wrote for Harry on Father's Day, a month after their son Archie was born back in 2019.

It explores the “special bond between father and son” as seen "through a mother's eyes”.

However, it has not been universally loved.

While it has received many five-star reviews on Amazon from readers, some critics have been harder to win over.

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