A copy of Meghan Markle’s children’s book, featuring a handwritten message to Princess Eugenie, was listed on eBay for £20,000. The hardback edition of The Bench, written by the Duchess of Sussex in 2021, included a note dated December 2021, two years after the birth of her son Archie.
Listing details and inscription
The book was listed by Drive Easy’s Signed Books, owned by Nicholas Joseph Greenwood, a specialist book seller who has sold more than 2,000 unique items. The inscription read: “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 listing noted that the ink from the handwritten message had ‘gone through to the previous page’ but described it as ‘an absolute masterpiece of modern royal history’. It added: “Written in the Duchess’s highly celebrated, fluid signature calligraphy style, the personal message links the Sussexes directly to the heart of the British Royal family.”
Online attention and removal
The listing was viewed tens of thousands of times but was later deleted from the resale page. It remains unclear whether the book was sold or withdrawn after gaining online attention. The Mirror has contacted Meghan’s spokesperson for comment.
The listing also stated: “Authentic intimate gifts sent from one member of the Royal family directly to another are exceptionally rare to find on the open market. This book is thus a pinnacle piece for any serious royal memorabilia collector, autograph hunter, or contemporary archivist.”
Royal connection
According to the Telegraph, Nicholas Joseph Greenwood did not disclose how he came into possession of the book. Princess Eugenie, a cousin of Prince Harry, is among the few members of the Royal Family who remained close to the Sussexes after they stepped back from royal duties and moved to California.
Eugenie was the only member of the Firm to feature in Harry and Meghan’s 2022 Netflix docuseries and joined Harry at the Super Bowl in California the same year. The princess, eldest daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, had long been close to the couple and spent time with them when their relationship began in 2016. The four, including Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank, dressed up for Halloween in Toronto before the relationship was publicly revealed.
