Meghan Markle's Alleged Personal Gift For Princess Eugenie And Jack Listed On eBay For Nearly £20K

A personalised copy of Meghan Markle's children's book The Bench, apparently inscribed for Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, has appeared on eBay with an eye-watering price tag of almost £20,000.

The first-edition book was listed by London-based specialist bookseller Drive Easy's Signed Books for £19,999.99, with the seller describing it as a unique presentation copy allegedly signed and personally dedicated by Meghan.

However, the circumstances surrounding the book remain a mystery, and there is no confirmation that Eugenie or Jack ever sold it, donated it or discarded it.

What Did the Inscription to Eugenie and Jack Say?

The book contains a handwritten message addressed to 'Eug & Jack', dated 2021, the same year Eugenie and Jack welcomed their son August.

The inscription reads: 'Dear Eug & Jack, Celebrating the special bond between father and son. I wrote this poem at Frogmore - I hope that Eug, you witness the same love there with your guys. All love, Meghan.'

The reference to Frogmore Cottage is particularly notable because Eugenie and Jack were living there at the time after moving into the property in late 2020.

The message appears to connect the book directly to the couple's family life, making the discovery of the copy on the resale market considerably more intriguing than an ordinary signed edition.

What Did the Seller Say About the Book?

The seller presented the copy as a rare piece of royal memorabilia and described the handwriting as being in Meghan's distinctive calligraphy style.

However, the inscription has not been independently authenticated, and the provenance of the book has not been established. The seller also did not publicly explain how the copy came into their possession.

The listing was subsequently ended, with no confirmed indication that the book actually sold for anything close to the £19,999.99 asking price.

Did Princess Eugenie Discard the Book?

This is where the story has become much more sensational online.

Social-media users speculated that Eugenie might have discarded the book, although there is no evidence establishing how it reached the seller. There is no evidence proving that the book was found in a bin by the seller, nor that Eugenie personally threw it away.

The seller was a professional bookseller rather than Eugenie herself, and several possible explanations have circulated for how the book could have entered the second-hand market. It could have been donated, passed to someone else, left behind when the couple moved, or acquired through another route that has not been disclosed.

The eBay Listing Sparked Royal Family Speculation

The mysterious appearance of the book inevitably led to speculation about Meghan and Eugenie's relationship.

Meghan and Harry have long been understood to have maintained a friendly relationship with Eugenie and Jack, who have been among the royals seen in their wider social circle.

Some social-media users interpreted the eBay listing as evidence of a falling-out. Others questioned why anyone would sell such a personal gift if the inscription was genuine. But the listing itself does not establish a royal rift.

There is also no evidence that Meghan was involved in putting the book on eBay, and there is no evidence that Eugenie authorised its sale. Representatives for Meghan and Eugenie had not publicly confirmed the provenance or authenticity of the item at the time of reporting.

Why Was the Asking Price So High?

The £19,999 price is dramatically higher than the cost of an ordinary copy of The Bench, with the premium supposedly coming from its alleged royal provenance and personalised inscription.

Meghan published The Bench in 2021, with the story inspired by a poem she wrote for Harry on Father's Day and centred on the relationship between fathers and sons.

A normal copy has little connection to royal memorabilia. A genuinely authenticated copy personally inscribed by Meghan to another member of the Royal Family would be a very different proposition for collectors.

For now, though, the biggest question remains unanswered: how did this particular book leave the hands of Eugenie and Jack, if it ever belonged to them at all?

Until the provenance and handwriting are independently verified, claims that Eugenie discarded the book remain speculation.