The Duchess of Sussex surprised royal watchers this week with the news that she has written a children’s book.
The Bench is illustrated by bestselling artist Christian Robinson and will be published by Random House Children's Books on 8 June 2021.
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Soon after the announcement, the book was compared with a book called The Boy on the Bench by children’s author Corrinne Averiss, which is also about a father-son relationship.
However, Corinne has spoken out about the comparisons, saying on Wednesday that she didn’t think there was any connection to her work.
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Taking to her Twitter account, the British author wrote: "Reading the description and published excerpt of the Duchess’s new book, this is not the same story or the same theme as The Boy on the Bench. I don’t see any similarities."
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Corinne didn't allow replies to her message, but it quickly racked up hundreds of re-tweets and favourites from supportive followers.
© Photo: TwitterCorrinne Averiss posted the message on Wednesday
It's a busy week for Meghan and Harry, as they will celebrate Archie's second birthday on Thursday and it will be Mother's Day in the U.S on Sunday – Meghan's last as a mother-of-one.
The couple are currently expecting a baby girl, who will be born this summer.
In a statement about her new book released on Tuesday, The Duchess explained its touching family inspiration.
She said: "The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born."
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She went on: "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."
She added: "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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