Meghan Markle In First Interview Since Oprah Chat As She Speaks About Intimate Family Details

Jun 21, 2021 by apost team

Meghan Markle has had a very busy last few weeks. For starters, she gave birth to her and Prince Harry's second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, on June 4. Named in honor of both her great-grandmother, the queen, and Harry's late mother Princess Diana, Lilibet's birth propelled the couple back into the press.

Then a few days later, the Duchess of Sussex released her very first children's book titled "The Bench." The book began as a poem that Markle wrote to Harry one Father's Day before it was turned into a book with gorgeous illustrations by Christian Robinson. Released on June 8, it didn't take long for "The Bench" to become a #1 New York Times bestseller, proving that Markle's talents lie in much more than just acting. 

Last week the duchess addressed the book's success on her and Harry's website for the Archewell Foundation. Markle enlightened fans about how the book came to be, revealing that it was created specifically for her husband and son. She thanked all of her readers and wrote a moving message about how she hopes it brings more compassion and equity to the world.

Now, Markle has given an interview to NPR Weekend Edition's Picture This series — which was recorded before she gave birth to Lilibet — about the book. The interview is her first since her and Harry's bombshell talk with Oprah Winfrey back in March. In the NPR interview, the duchess spoke about personal details that appear in the book and how it's a universal love story about family.

Released on June 8 in various countries around the world including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa, "The Bench" is a children's picture book that was written by Meghan Markle and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Instantly, the book topped America's children's picture book bestseller list, prompting Markle to write a personal note to her readers and thank them for supporting her debut book.

Last week she posted to the Archewell Foundation website, revealing that the book began as a Father's Day poem that was written for Prince Harry. It then expanded into a children's book with watercolor illustrations by Robinson that capture "moments of love and shared experiences between a diverse group of fathers and sons." Markle wrote herself:

“While this poem began as a love letter to my husband and son, I’m encouraged to see that its universal themes of love, representation and inclusivity are resonating with communities everywhere. In many ways, pursuing a more compassionate and equitable world begins with these core values."

In her interview with Samantha Balaban for NPR Weekend Edition's Picture This series, Markle spoke about the way in which "The Bench" captured private family moments, stating:

"I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realized how much happens in the quiet.

"It was definitely moments like that, watching them from out of the window and watching [my husband] just, you know, rock him to sleep or carry him or, you know ... those lived experiences, from my observation, are the things that I infused in this poem."

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In the NPR interview, Markle described Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Robinson's work as "beautiful and ethereal," explaining that the book's pictures manage to capture "the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life." The pictures even depict the Sussexes themselves, with Prince Harry and Archie pictured feeding chickens at the family's Montecito, California home, while in another image a woman who appears to be Markle is holding a baby in a sling, likely a nod to the couple's newborn daughter Lilibet Diana. 

But despite the personal moments, Markle cleared up a rumor that one illustration, which included a father in army uniform arriving home to his son, was not in fact based on Harry and Archie, but rather a sergeant from Texas whom she met years prior. She explained:

"He had told me the story about how he wasn't able to teach his son how to play catch because he was away."

She added:

"That page is true to form for him and his family. There are lots of little small moments like that that were personal memories or anecdotes that I wanted infused in there."

Another personal tribute that Markle was able to include was a nod to Princess Diana, which she included by incorporating Harry's mom's favorite flower in the book. But despite all of the personal touches, Markle spoke of the universality of the book:

"It's a love story. It's really just about growing with someone and having this deep connection and this trust so that, be it good times or bad, you know that you had this person. I really hope that people can see this as a love story that transcends the story of my family."

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