Meghan Markle's narration of her new children's book The Bench is so sweet you've just got to hear it

Meghan Markle, Meghan Markle's narration in The Bench
(Image credit: Alamy)

Meghan Markle's narration of her new children's book The Bench is so sweet you've just got to hear it.

Meghan Markle can be heard reading her first-ever published children's book on the audio version of the publication.

The Duchess of Sussex released the book on 8th June and aside from the hardback copies of the book, which she gave signed copies to her closest friends including photographer Gray Malin, Meghan has personally recorded the audiobook.

Meghan Markle's narration of The Bench can be heard as a snippet on Amazon or via the Audible website and within it, she reveals that the book reading is carried out by none other than herself.

Listen to Meghan Markle's narration in The Bench here

Meghan, who is one step closer to taking Prince Harry's surname, can be heard saying the introduction, "Listening library presents The Bench, by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Read by the author." And a clip uploaded to Youtube you can hear Meghan read a passage, she says, "This is your bench where life will begin. For you and our son, our baby, our kin."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoV9PdtY7Ow

Her American accent can be heard, and the intro is accompanied by some piano music, which softly plays in the background during the reading and fades out afterward.

But fans are torn on the new project. The book, which failed to make the bestseller list on its first day of release.

And it has already got mixed reviews from fans - with more than half giving it five-star reviews and just under half giving it a one-star review. One happy customer wrote, 'Simple and beautifully written ... lovely illustrations - children will love as much as parents ... brought tears to my eyes. A new standard baby gift for me. Please do write one for a daughter.'

Another put, 'Loved the book. Can’t wait for the next chapter on moms and daughters' and a third added, 'Received our kindle copy this morning (hardback due tomorrow), it’s a sweet story with beautiful illustrations, read it to my near 2year old & he sat quietly (v rare) & loved the pictures. It’s a beautiful sentimental children’s story, well done Meghan❤️'

But others were critical of its length, the 'bad use of grammar' and for being 'overly sentimental'.

Meghan Markle's narration in The Bench, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

(Image credit: Alamy)

Meanwhile, it's not just Meghan and Harry's son Archie, two, that makes an appearance in the book, it's understood that there's a nod to daughter Lilibet Diana in the story. In The Bench's final illustration features a ginger-haired man helping a young boy feed chickens while a dark-haired woman stands in a garden cradling a baby - possibly a nod to Lili.

As we know that Prince Harry and Meghan's LA home has a chicken coop, called 'Chick Inn' as it appeared in Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview.

Selina Maycock
Senior Family Writer

Selina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism, and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, and Woman's Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz - and the Scunthorpe Telegraph. When she's not covering family news, you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories (including award-winning scarecrows!)