The Duchess of Sussex’s children’s book, The Bench, comes out on the 8th, Tuesday. I assume most people who pre-ordered it from Amazon (or whichever site) will receive it by the end of the week. Meghan also sent signed copies to friends, and some of those friends have begun posting Meghan’s notes, with her distinctive penmanship, on social media – go here to see.
I bring up the release date for The Bench because it doesn’t seem like Meghan is doing any promotional stuff for it? Not that it matters – The Bench will be an automatic bestseller, and it’s already topping many pre-sale lists. But it would have been nice if she had, like, chatted with the NY Times or LA Times to promote the book ahead of giving birth last Friday. If nothing comes out this week, maybe she just figured that it was a bigger flex to NOT promote it and watch it become a bestseller anyway. I mean, Meghan is getting tons of publicity this week anyway – it’s not as if she needed to do an interview. In any case, I thought I’d remind everyone that in addition to welcoming lil’ Lilibet Diana, Meghan’s other baby, The Bench, is coming out this week.
It’s also more than possible that Meghan and Harry decided to begin their parental leaves early ahead of the birth. Omid Scobie noted that they are now on parental leave, and we’ve heard before that Meghan wanted her maternity leave to be different this time, that she really wanted to have the summer off with the baby and take some real time away from work. We’re also not going to get a photo of Lili or the Sussex fam for a while, I guess, although I think they’re announcing “we’re not releasing a photo” so that people will be surprised when they do release a photo, weeks from now, to benefit a charity or something like that. For now, well-wishers are directed on Archewell to donate to organizations working with women and girls.
I have to once again mention Meghan and Harry’s other flex, the fact that they welcomed Lili last Friday and only announced it when they were (presumably) back home. There were no leaks, either in America or the UK. I believe most people were like me – thinking that Meghan would give birth later in June. The Daily Mail did report (after the fact) that Lili was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, which was founded by women in 1888. It was likely the same hospital where Katy Perry gave birth.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I’m predicting it now, they will drop a family of four photo on June 8th to coincide with the release of the book and it will be ALL the promo it needs!
It would be a good promo but i kind of hope they don’t do that.
I don’t think so…..I think they are off for a few months now
I am just so sad as it looks like we won’t see Meghan for a while
That’s why I think they will drop a picture before going dormant for the summer.
I think Father’s Day, June 20 (US) is a good possibility for a photo of some kind, maybe Harry and both kids. Would also tie in with the idea behind the book.
Another excellent possibility!
Yes — I’m thinking we’ll see a photo on Father’s Day!
I could see them dropping a photo on their website but with the baby and Archie’s faces concealed to promote the book. Regardless, I think a post will be planned to coincide with the book’s release date, but it might just be a photo of the book cover.
What a fantastic week for Meghan and Harry!
I have already pre-orderd; I did as soon as the news came out….I pre-ordered a few hardcover copies, the e-book version and the audio just to listen to Meg’s voice
It looks like I am not the only one who did…………..
I pre-ordered too. I don’t have kids or grandkids, so I will eventually donate my copy to my library. I wanted to support our American Duchess!
I’m excited to get my copy! I wonder if she had some interviews pre-taped that they’ll air tomorrow or something, it seems weird to do zero promotion for it but if the book is selling well anyway, then why bother?
I had always figured she was due late May/early June and wasn’t sure why people insisted she was due around Diana’s bday. Something in the way she so carefully said “summer” to me gave me the vibe that she was due close-ish to Memorial Day. I didn’t think it was any sooner than that, bc if she had been due mid-May or early May Harry would not have gone to the funeral IMO. To be honest I kept waiting all last week for a birth announcement, I half-expected that we were going to get one WAY after the fact. (like get an announcement on June 6 like we did, but have the announcement be “oh btw she gave birth two weeks ago.”)
She’s definitely back home – no way would they have released that statement with the name of the hospital unless she was. It sounds to me like they are trying to pre-empt any excitement around the birth certificate? We have the time of birth, we have the weight, location, there’s very little that nosy Nellies could find out from the BC that we don’t know at this point.
Good catch on the birth certificate details. I hadn’t even thought of that. Damn, those Sussexes are smart cookies!
I think that birth certificates are confidential here, so trolls are out of luck if they go looking for it.
I’m sure someone will try to get a look to see how H&M’s names are listed on it and try to create drama about use or non-use of titles.
That’s the only thing I can think of that would be interesting on it at this point – if they are listed as Duke/Duchess of Sussex?
Do we put occupations on birth certificates here? I have my boys in the other room, I could just go check, lol, but I’m sure it varies by state. I would love to see something like “philanthropist” or “producer” on it for them.
It might vary by state but the ones for my kids don’t. Same for mine and my husband’s, which are from two different states.
Yeah after the Bench drops, I’m imagining a relatively dry summer in terms of Sussex news. There will be gossip articles and maybe the odd drop of news but it’ll generally be quiet. The first 3 years of their marriage was pretty turbulent in terms of family so I don’t blame them for wanting a few months off to recover from it all – baby or no baby.
@Sofia
The summer wont be dry at all. H&M said while theyre off on parental leave the work will continue, which we will see via postings on archewellDOTcom.
It wouldn’t surprise me if she had pre-taped an interview about the book. But it’s already selling like crazy, so either way, I just can’t wait!
It would be nice to maybe see an interview with the book’s illustrator. I don’t think he’s done any yet? I bet you he will.
Perhaps Meghan already has something in the works to promote her book. Remember she worked on the Vogue Forces for Change project late in her first pregnancy. Or maybe she will be taking it super easy this time around. Either way, her book will be a success because she has genuine support and interest in what she does. Her supporters aren’t just pretending to like her just because they hate someone else, they aren’t just showing her “love” only to spite someone else yet failing to show love for her work when it matters. I hope she is putting her feet up and enjoying baby Lili while her boys dote on her, and I hope Harry at least gives her a turn to hold the baby because we all know he’s already obsessed.
Maybe she’s got something pre taped and it will release on the 8th?
May and June have turned out beautifully for the Sussexes. Looking forward for the book.
They really have, haven’t they? They chaired the concert, Harry had a hugely successful docuseries come out, Meghan’s book was announced – and now their baby girl is here. Not a bad way to start the summer.
Harry still does have the documentary he’s producing with Netflix for Invictus. Although I’m not sure they’ve released a date yet
How many others here predicted Lily Doriana like I did on May 12th?
I can see why they went with straight Diana. it’s to honour her, and also I think Doria really really likes to keep a low profile. And like everyone has said she’s right there in her granddaughter’s life.
Someone on Twitter said a beloved Ragland aunt was nicknamed Lilly. This Lilly left her house to a relative, who in turn left that house to Doria…maybe it all connects
And Doria also calls Meghan Flower, so it’s clear Meg’s family is represented, it’s just not as obvious.
With the British press going into overdrive every time Meghan does something, there’s no need for her to do any promo for the book. I think when they say they’re on parental leave they really not going to be doing anything for awhile.
Like other commenters I’m expecting/hoping that she pre recorded something to coincide with the release on the 8th. The Sussexes general approach to projects is to let the work speak for itself. I expect that they will continue to operate in that way because they have to deal with all of the noise the tabloids and the trolls generate when anything is known in advance. Any interview she would have done would have been turned into an opportunity to demean her and the project.
I preordered it! Can’t wait to get it. I have a special love for children’s books in addition to loving her.
The fact that the Archewell site says content will still br pushed out with them on leave makes me think there might be some pre-taped stuff. Remember how ABC made a big deal about having an interview with her when Elephant came out last year only for it to have been an interview shed recorded in studio back in 2019? But I agree she doesnt need to do that much for it to be a bestseller
I hope they interview the illustrator. Really nice drawings.
A little note: a lot of haters will be deliberately giving 1 star reviews. And critics (some will come in the form of the “rat rota”) will write horrible and biased reviews as well. They’ve done it before, when Meghan was narrating the Disney nature show, Elephant. If you happen to have the audiobook (like I have) or have bought the physical copy and you thoroughly enjoyed the book, do make sure to give her good reviews to counteract the nasty ones.
I listened to the audiobook and it’s so beautifully narrated. Meghan’s voice is so soothing. I immediately gave her five stars for everything. ⭐️
I received my copy this morning! Definitely a good idea to leave a good Amazon review!