Meghan Markle’s pal shared a peek inside herfirst children’s book!
The Duchess of Sussex’s bookThe Bench— which explores the bond between fathers and sons as seen through a mother’s eyes — will be published on June 8, but it seems she already sent copies to some of her close friends.
Photographer Gray Malin offered a glimpse inside the book on his Instagram Story on Thursday. Clipped to the front of the book was a note that read: “With compliments of the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Please enjoy this advanced copy on behalf of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.”
Malin opens the cover to reveal a handwritten note from Meghan in her stylish penmanship, stemming from her previous work as a calligrapher.
“Dear Gray, from one parent to another — all my love from my family to yours…” Meghan, who isexpecting her second childwithPrince Harrythis summer, wrote. The note is signed, “As ever, Meghan.”
“Received some royal mail,” Malin captioned the clip. “Congrats on your new book, M!”

On the page is also a previously unseen illustration from the book, which appears to showPrince Harryholding hands with son Archie, whoturned 2in May.
An interior illustration from the book previously shared depicts a father in military uniform warmly greeting his son as a woman looks on from inside a house. Harry, a military veteran, served as a captain in the British Army.
“The Benchstarted as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” Meghan said in the press release from publisher Random House Children’s Books. “That poem became this story.”
Archie, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

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An excerpt of the book shared onAmazonreads:
“This is your benchWhere you’ll witness great joy.From here you will restSee the growth of our boy.”
Meghan Markle’s new children’s book, The Bench.Random House Books for Young Readers
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“Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolor illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens,” Meghan said. “My hope is thatThe Benchresonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.”
source: people.com