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Meghan Markle breaks maternity leave silence to share a statement

Having recently welcomed their daughter Lilibet into the world, both Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry said they'd be taking some time off of work to spend with their growing family. However, The Duchess of Sussex has now briefly come out of maternity leave to share a statement with royal and literary enthusiasts the world over – as her children's book, The Bench, soars to number one of the New York Times bestsellers chart.

A new post has appeared on the Archewell website (Meghan and Harry's charitable organisation, named after their son Archie), containing a message that reads: "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex's debut children's book, The Bench, is #1 on The New York Times Bestseller list for children's picture books after being released just last week. Congratulations to everyone involved in the project."

The book is based on a poem that Meghan wrote for Harry as a Father's Day gift, and is all about the love and bond shared between a father and son.

Underneath the announcement, a grateful statement from the Duchess can be seen. It begins by saying, "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."

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Meghan then adds, "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. Thank you for supporting me in this special project."

The book, which is dedicated to "the man and the boy who make my heart go pump-pump", features many touching references to the Duke of Sussex and their two-year-old son, Archie Harrison, – and eagle-eyed readers also think they've spotted a nod to Lilibet, too.

The Bench’s final illustration shows a red-haired man helping a young boy feed chickens while a dark-haired woman stands in a garden cradling a baby – this scene seems to closely mirror the Sussex family's appearance and lifestyle and looks like a reference to new baby Lilibet 'Lili' Diana.

We know the family love feeding their chickens, something well documented in Meghan and Harry's Oprah documentary, and there's more detail in the illustration that appears to mirror their life... As well as the chickens, the illustration by popular artist Christian Robinson features two dogs that resemble Meghan and Harry's pets - a black Labrador named Pula and a beagle named Guy.

How lovely!

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