Meghan Markle has given her first interview since her bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey, following the success of her book The Bench.
The mum-of-two gave the interview before the birth of daughter Lilibet and spoke to Samantha Balaban for the NPR Weekend Edition show, Picture This.
The 39-year-old and husband Prince Harry, 36, welcomed little Lili on June 4 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.
Just four days later, Meghan's book The Bench – which has gone on to become a No1 New York Times bestseller – was published on June 8.
The Bench was inspired by a poem which Meghan wrote for Harry for Father's Day, and the relationship that Harry has with their son Archie, two.
She told Samantha: "I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realised how much happens in the quiet.
"It was definitely moments like that, watching them from out of the window and watching [my husband] just, you know, rock him to sleep or carry him or, you know … those lived experiences, from my observation, are the things that I infused in this poem."
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The story is told from the perspective of a mother and, according to the publishers, "touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between fathers and sons and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family".
Social media was rife with speculation that one page in particular, which depicts a young boy jumping into the arms of his father, who is in army uniform, was supposed to be Harry and Archie.
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But Meghan has cleared up the rumours, and revealed the page is based on a personal story from a sergeant she met in Texas a number of years ago.
She said: "He had told me the story about how he wasn't able to teach his son how to play catch because he was away."
The mum-of-two added: "That page is true to form for him and his family.
"There are lots of little small moments like that that were personal memories or anecdotes that I wanted infused in there."
The book also includes a nod to Princess Diana in the form of her favourite flower.
However she also made it clear she wants readers to enjoy the book, despite it having so much of her personal thoughts in there.
She said: "It's a love story. It's really just about growing with someone and having this deep connection and this trust so that, be at good times or bad, you know that you had this person.
"I really hope that people can see this as a love story that transcends the story of my family."
The book is illustrated by Christian Robinson, who has worked with the likes of Pixar Animation Studios and The Sesame Street Workshop.
Meghan described Christian's work as "beautiful and ethereal", saying it captures "the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life".
Despite The Bench going on to hit the top spot in the children's picture books category on The New York Times bestseller list, it was met with some negativity from critics.
There has been criticism over the apparent lack of rhythm, storyline and even grammar, in places, while others noted that its target audience was parents rather than kids.
- Meghan Markle
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