MEGHAN Markle included Princess Diana’s favourite flower in her children’s picture book in a sweet nod to her late mother-in-law.
The Duchess of Sussex chose to feature forget-me-nots in newly released The Bench – as well as several other “little moments” dedicated to her family.
– Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
The book was released on June 8 – just days after her daughter Lilibet was born.
Meghan described it as a “love story” that was “inspired by the love that I see between my husband and our son”.
And in an interview with NPR, she said she kept Diana and her future daughter in mind while writing the book because she “needed my girls in there”.
“I think you can find sweet little moments that we hid in there – of my favourite flower, even my husband’s mom’s favourite flower, forget-me-nots,” she added.
“We wanted to make sure those were included in there.
“There are many, many special details and love that went into this book.”
It also features Harry and Meghan’s rescue chickens.
The news comes as…
- Prince Charles is reportedly planning to ensure Archie will never have the title of Prince
- A report into claims Meghan Markle bullied Palace staff might not be published until next year
- Prince Harry wants to have his own journalist at the Diana memorial, it has been claimed
- Charles will be in Scotland when Harry is visiting the UK
- William and Harry have called a truce for the service in memory of their mother
During the chat – her first public interview since giving birth on June 4 – Meghan also revealed the book was about “growing with someone and having this deep connection and this trust so that, be at 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,” she added.
She also revealed she had bought Harry a real bench for his first ever Father’s Day.
The duchess said: “As most of us do, you go, what am I going to get them as a gift?
“And I thought I just wanted something sentimental and a place for him to have as a bit of a home base with our son.”
And Meghan gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her new life in the US and during the pandemic.
She said: “I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realised 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.”
The pictures in the 34-page book give a look into the Sussexes’ “authentic” life at their LA home.
One illustration appears to show her holding Lilibet while Harry feeds the chickens with little Archie.
The two-year-old is said to be a big fan of the book, yelling “again, again” every time Meghan or Harry finishes reading it.
Meghan said: “Archie loves the book. He loves it, which is great because has a voracious appetite for books.
“Constantly when we read him a book he goes ‘again, again, again!’.
“But now the fact that he loves The Bench and we can say mummy wrote this for you – it feels amazing.”
