A personalised copy of Meghan Markle's children's book The Bench, which she gave to Princess Eugenie, appeared for sale on eBay for almost £20,000. The listing, which included a handwritten dedication inside, has since been removed, and it is claimed Eugenie has apologised to Meghan over the incident.
Friendship predates Harry
Meghan and Eugenie were friends before Meghan met Prince Harry. Both women were friends with fashion designer Misha Nonoo, and Harry reportedly introduced his future wife to Eugenie and her now-husband Jack Brooksbank before any other royal.
After Harry and Meghan moved out of the UK, they allowed Eugenie and Jack to move into their former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, as they started their family. Both couples have since acquired holiday properties in Portugal, and at King Charles III's coronation, Harry was positioned directly next to Eugenie and Jack.
The personalised gift
When Meghan wrote The Bench in 2021, the first royal she likely gave a signed copy to would have been Eugenie. The book details a loving story about the relationship between a father and son, as seen from a mother's perspective, inspired by Meghan's own experience of watching Harry with their son Prince Archie.
The alleged message inside the copy 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."
Apology and impact
It is not known how the copy ended up on eBay, but the listing has since been removed. Sources report that Eugenie has called Meghan to apologise that the book ended up for sale and is "horrified" by the embarrassing situation. The incident will test the cousins' friendship.
