Meghan Markle’s book The Bench fails to make it into UK Top 50 bestsellers’ list

Meghan Markle’s children’s book ‘The Bench’ has failed to make it into the top 50 in the UK book charts as Marcus Rashford takes the top spot.

‘The Bench’ was inspired by a poem the Duchess of Sussex wrote about Prince Harry‘s first Father’s Day.

The 40-page £12.99 ($18.42) book has an average rating of four stars online and is illustrated with pictures of the family including one of Meghan cradling newborn daughter Lili and Harry playing with Archie, the Mirror reports.

But the book sold just 3,212 copies in its first week and failed to make it into the best selling top 50.

However, it did top the chart for the best selling picture book.

Despite the slow sales the work is expected to be hugely profitable for the book’s publishers Penguin Random House Children’s (PRH) as they have rights that allow them to sell the English language version globally.

PRH could also sell translation rights to other publishers which means ‘The Bench’ could become a huge global success if it is printed in other languages.

The book has been illustrated by award-winning artist Christian Robinson, and the audiobook is narrated by the Duchess of Sussex herself.

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford scooped the top spot with his book ‘You are a Champion’ which sold a whopping 10,564 copies in the last week as football fans are gripped by Euro 2020.

Tom Tivan is the managing editor of The Bookseller which provided the Mirror with the figures.

Speaking to the Mirror he said that despite Meghan’s book failing to make it to the top 50 it is not disappointing because picture books generally sell slow and steadily.

He said: “At a little over 3,000 copies (3,212 to be exact) sold The Bench is obviously not a huge bestseller in week one, it didn’t even make the top 50.

“But I don’t think that’s a disappointment for Penguin Random House Children’s as picture books generally don’t sell huge amounts starting out – even if the writer is the Duchess of Sussex.

“The aim is the long game as picture books tend to have a longer shelf life than adult titles. The idea is to keep them selling week in and week out and is not about a quick hit.

“Meghan’s was the bestselling picture book of the week, though as it sold 500 more copies than Julia Donaldson’s What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.”