A copy of Meghan Markle's children's book The Bench, featuring what appears to be a personalised handwritten message to Princess Eugenie, has been listed for sale on eBay for almost £20,000.
The Duchess of Sussex published The Bench in 2021, a story about the relationship between a father and son as seen from a mother's perspective. It is believed the book was inspired by Meghan's experience of watching her husband, Prince Harry, with their son, Prince Archie.
Handwritten message to Eugenie and Jack
According to the eBay listing, the book contains a message that appears to have been written by Meghan to Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank. The handwritten note, in Meghan's trademark calligraphy-style handwriting, reads: "2021. Dear Eug & Jack, Celebrating the special bond between father and son. I wrote this poem at Frogmore - I hope that Eug, you witness the same love there with your guys. All love, Meghan."
The reference to Frogmore relates to the cottage Harry and Meghan lived in after their wedding, and which is believed to have been inhabited by Jack and Eugenie after the couple moved to the US in 2020. The date is also notable, as 2021 was the year Eugenie and Jack welcomed their first son, August.
Authenticity questioned online
It has not been confirmed whether the message and signature were written by Meghan or whether the book was received by Eugenie. The seller describes the book as having a few scratches and marks, suggesting it was well-read by its previous owner.
The listing has sparked debate on X, with users questioning its authenticity. One person wrote: "How is this real?!" Another commented: "Too perfect to be real. The letters are too exact from word to word, same shape/slant/twist. I think it's computer-generated to look like her handwriting." A third said: "Could be a total fake. How would anyone know?"
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not respond to requests for comment.
