A Meghan Markle children’s book allegedly gifted to Princess Eugenie has surfaced on eBay for a jaw-dropping £19,999.99 — complete with a handwritten message that appears to reference Frogmore and the special bond between a father and son.
A seemingly ordinary children’s book has become the latest royal mystery after a copy of Meghan Markle’s The Bench appeared for sale online — allegedly bearing a personal inscription to Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
The asking price? A staggering £19,999.99 — around $26,500.
And that wasn’t all.
The hardback first edition was reportedly described by the seller as a “presentation copy” personally inscribed, dated and signed by Meghan for Eugenie and Jack.
The listing has since disappeared from eBay, leaving royal watchers asking the obvious question:
How did such a personal royal gift end up on the secondhand market?
THE £20,000 BOOK THAT VANISHED
The book at the centre of the drama is The Bench, Meghan’s 2021 children’s picture book inspired by Prince Harry’s relationship with his son, Archie.
According to the now-removed eBay listing, the copy was a first edition complete with its dust jacket and illustrations.
The seller, London-based signed-book dealer Drive Easy’s Signed Books, reportedly claimed the book had been personally presented to Eugenie and Jack.
Photographs associated with the listing appeared to show a handwritten inscription dated 2021.
The message reportedly began:
“Eug & Jack”
It allegedly went on to reference “the special bond between father and son” and mentioned Frogmore, where Harry and Meghan previously lived.
The note was reportedly signed:
“All love, Meg(h)”
For royal watchers, the timing immediately raised eyebrows.
Eugenie and Jack welcomed their first child, August, in February 2021 — making the reference to a father-and-son bond particularly striking.
A ROYAL GIFT WORTH £20,000?
The original asking price transformed what would ordinarily be a children’s book into a potential five-figure royal collectible.
The seller reportedly even offered buyers the chance to spread the cost over 24 months through PayPal, with payments of roughly £943 a month.
That is a remarkable price tag for The Bench — but collectors can pay huge premiums for items with an alleged connection to the Royal Family.
A generic signed copy of a book is one thing.
A supposedly personal gift from one royal family member to another is something else entirely.
The appeal comes down to three things:
- The personal inscription — the message allegedly names Eugenie and Jack.
- The timing — the gift is reportedly dated the same year their son August was born.
- The royal connection — genuine private gifts exchanged between senior members of the Royal Family rarely appear on the open market.
BUT IS IT REALLY MEGHAN’S HANDWRITING?
There is a major catch.
The authenticity of the inscription has not been independently established.
While the seller reportedly presented the book as a genuine presentation copy, there has been no public confirmation from Meghan, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie or their representatives that the inscription is authentic.
Nor has there been a public authentication from a handwriting expert or major auction house.
That means the most intriguing parts of the story remain allegations rather than established fact.
DID EUGENIE SELL IT?
Despite speculation online, there is no evidence that Princess Eugenie personally put the book on eBay.
In fact, the appearance of a royal possession on the resale market does not necessarily mean its original recipient sold it.
Personal belongings can change hands through estates, household clear-outs, staff, intermediaries and professional dealers before eventually appearing for sale.
So while the book’s appearance is undeniably curious, claims that Eugenie deliberately sold Meghan’s gift — or was trying to send a message — remain speculation.
AND THEN CAME THE CLAIM OF AN APOLOGY
Adding another layer to the royal drama were reports that Princess Eugenie allegedly apologised to Meghan after the listing attracted attention.
But once again, there is a catch.
Those claims appear to rely on unnamed sources and have not been publicly confirmed by Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes or Eugenie’s representatives.
For now, the alleged apology should therefore be treated cautiously.
THE GREAT ROYAL BOOK MYSTERY
The eBay listing has now disappeared, but its sudden appearance has left plenty of questions behind.
Was the book genuinely gifted by Meghan to Eugenie and Jack?
Was the inscription authentic?
How did the book reach a London dealer?
Was it sold, withdrawn by the seller, or removed after the story attracted media attention?
And most importantly — who ultimately owned the £20,000 royal curiosity?
There are currently no definitive public answers.
What is clear is that an alleged personal gift involving Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie briefly became one of the most eye-catching royal collectibles to hit the resale market.
For now, the £20,000 Bench remains less a confirmed royal scandal than an intriguing royal mystery — one that disappeared from eBay almost as quickly as it arrived.












