Baby Lili Makes a Sweet Cameo in Meghan Markle's New Book

Today marks the publication of the Duchess of Sussex's first children's book, The Bench. The story is about the bond between a father and son, as seen through a mother's eyes. It includes illustrations of the Duchess's own husband and son, Prince Harry and Archie, along with the family's two dogs and flock of rescue chickens. And, on the book's final page, Meghan included a surprise cameo from a special guest.

On Sunday, the Duke and Duchess announced the arrival of their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on Friday, June 4. Meghan decided to include little Lili in her book in a special drawing. The Bench is illustrated by Caldecott-winning and bestselling artist Christian Robinson, and he drew a portrait of the growing Sussex family on the book's final page.

The drawing spans two pages and shows a red-headed boy and his father, presumably Prince Harry and Archie, sitting on a bench, feeding two chickens. Two flower patches, featuring lavender and orange blooms are illustrated behind them. On the adjacent page, another chicken and dog walk toward the little boy and his father, while, at the top of the page, there is an illustrated garden. In the fenced area stands a woman with dark hair, sporting a sunhat, white t-shirt, and jeans, along with an adorable black dog. The woman, presumably Meghan, carries a small baby in a wrap carrier across her chest. Readers can infer that this child is little Lili!

At the bottom of the page reads the book's final line: "Where you'll never be 'lone," a sweet and heartfelt conclusion to the story.

“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said in a statement. “That poem became this story. Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolor illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens. My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.”

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