Meghan Markle’s new book is ‘dull’ and not suited to children because ‘they want elephants and scary tigers not a lecture about their relationship with their father’, royal expert claims
- The Duchess of Sussex, 39, revealed this week she is publishing her first book
- The Bench is inspired by a poem she wrote for Harry after Archie was born
- Angela Levin says its subject matter is better suited to adults than children and branded its cover ‘very dull’ on this week’s edition of The Royal Beat
Meghan Markle’s new book is better suited to adults than children and has a ‘very dull’ cover, according to a royal expert.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, revealed this week she is publishing her first book, called The Bench, which is set to hit shelves next month.
The story is inspired by a poem Meghan wrote for Harry on Father’s Day the month after Archie was born and will explore the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’.
A publicity release said Meghan, who chose to use her title on the cover of the book, wanted the story to be told through an ‘inclusive lens’ and will feature a ‘diverse group of father and sons’.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, revealed this week she is publishing her first children’s book, called The Bench, which is set to hit shelves next month (pictured with Archie and Harry in 2019)
In one illustration, a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap is seen holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window. This is a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: ‘This is your bench, Where life begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin.’
The book will go on sale on June 8 priced at £12.99 (though it’s already been reduced to £9.99 at Amazon, Foyles and Waterstones) and is illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson.
Speaking to True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Angela Levin – author of Harry: Conversations with the Prince – said the subject matter of Meghan’s tale is ‘not interesting’ to children.
‘Children’s books are directed at children. They like elephants, they like nasty tigers. They do not want a lecture about how different your relationship is with your father, whatever level of society you are at,’ she claimed.
The book will go on sale on June 8 priced at £12.99 (though it’s already been reduced to £9.99 at Amazon, Foyles and Waterstones) and is illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson. Royal expert Angela Levin branded its cover ‘very dull’
‘This is a book for adults, not for children. Children are not interested in being told all of that. Also, it is a very dull cover.’
Discussing the titles Harry and Meghan are using for their new ventures, like the book, royal expert Wesley Kerr added: ‘Her title is that she is the Duchess of Sussex.
‘”Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex” [the pen name Meghan has used for her book] is what a divorced person would use, so that’s quite interesting to use that title.
‘It is very interesting to see that in their many appearances, their titles are used. When Harry did an appearance [at Vax Live] this week it was Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.’
It is not known if Meghan has received an advance for the book and whether any of the proceeds will be donated to charity, but a branding expert has suggested it would have already netted her £500,000 following a ‘bidding war to secure her first venture’.
Speaking to True Royalty TV ‘s The Royal Beat, Angela Levin – author of Harry: Conversations with the Prince – said the subject matter of Meghan’s tale is ‘not interesting’ to children
Popular culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL that the Duchess of Sussex would’ve likely been paid between a £250,000 to £500,000 advance to write the book.
Levin also told the programme that she thinks it is a shame that the Royal Family have not been able to use up-to-date images of Prince Harry and Meghan’s son Archie to celebrate his second birthday.
‘I think it’s a real shame… that they haven’t got lots of pictures of him becoming a toddler,’ she said.
‘I thought it was very sad because I think that whatever has happened, your family should be able to see the photograph of a child. Even if you don’t want them to have any influence whatsoever, that the one photograph is of him as a tiny baby.’
During the episode Levin praised the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s ‘brilliant’ new media strategy, which included the launch of a YouTube channel.
She said it’s helped ensure they can control press coverage, adding: ‘I think it’s brilliant because, as we know, Prince William hated the press, based on how he believed they treated his mother.
During the episode Levin praised the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s ‘brilliant’ new media strategy, which included the launch of a YouTube channel and their tenth anniversary video (pictured)
‘I think Catherine has helped him over that by learning how to take photographs herself, putting the children out there clapping for the nurses and front liners. So, she gives them a bit in the hope that they then leave them in peace. And because they’re so charming and so natural, then people don’t want to hide behind a bush and take [photos] because the public wouldn’t like that.’
Royal correspondent Russell Myers added that the Cambridges’ new video celebrating their tenth anniversary is a good move.
‘At the end of the day it is PR… bringing in this family feel, opening this window into the world so that you get just enough… and that is why it is a genius move from them,’ he told host Kate Thornton.
‘They are thanking their supporters for over 10 years of their marriage, which is why they released it. But it is saying we will give you a little bit – but leave us alone for the rest of it.’
Kerr revealed that the Queen is still very active in carrying out her duties, something he suggested is ‘keeping her going’ after losing Prince Philip last month (pictured on a videolink from Windsor Castle during a virtual audience at Buckingham Palace on April 27)
Talking about Prince William and Prince Harry and whether they will be at the unveiling of their mother’s statue together in the summer, Levin said: ‘It has taken them from 2017 to agree how this statue should be designed and who should design it, and it would be so sad if they weren’t actually there to see the unveiling.’
Meanwhile Kerr revealed that the Queen is still very active in carrying out her duties, something he suggested is ‘keeping her going’ after losing Prince Philip last month.
‘[She is] meeting ambassadors, [with] the ambassador in London [while] she’s at Windsor. She actually really enjoys that,’ he said.
‘She thinks it’s her duty. [She’s] still talking to the Prime Minister once a week, still red boxes twice a day with dispatches, documents to sign, one in the morning and then a night box which is always finished by the next morning.
‘I think that this routine is her life and is partly what keeps her going.’
The Royal Beat is available on True Royalty TV.
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