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Copycat: Meghan Markle Accused of Imitating Royal Members
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing criticism from royal fans who claim she is copying other members of the royal family.
The backlash comes after a video was released on Wednesday afternoon, showing Meghan reading her children's book, The Bench.
The video was shared on the Brightly Storytime channel, which is run by Penguin Random House, the publishing house for the book.
Meghan Markle has been relatively out of the public eye in recent weeks, following her trip to New York City with Prince Harry last month.
However, she made a comeback in a brand new video where she showcased her casual style while reading her book for Brightly Storytime.
The Bench is a poetic tale that explores the relationship between a father and son, as witnessed through a mother's eyes.
In the video, Meghan can be seen in what is reportedly the garden of her and Harry's Montecito property.
As she reads aloud, illustrations from her book are displayed on the screen.
The Duchess opted for a tight bun hairstyle and wore a relaxed blue shirt paired with jeans for the occasion.
She introduces the book, saying, “Today I'm going to read to you my book called The Bench with illustrator Christian Robinson.
I asked him to do something special for me and use watercolors, which isn't his normal medium, but he did it to make it extra special.
I wrote this as a poem for my husband and our son Archie, and then turned it into a book so you could enjoy it too.”
While some royal fans praised Meghan for her video, complimenting her calm and soothing voice, others criticized her for being unoriginal.
Twitter users pointed out similarities between Meghan's venture and the actions of other royal family members, particularly Sarah Ferguson.
Fergie, as she is commonly known, has her own YouTube channel dedicated to story time with Fergie and friends, where she reads children's literature to her audience.
One Twitter user wrote, “Is she copying Sarah, Duchess of York?”
Another user expressed their thoughts, asking Meghan to have original ideas instead of imitating others.
The comparisons between Meghan and Fergie continued, with one user stating, “Fergie did it first and did it better.”
Another user agreed, claiming that Meghan is like “Fergie 2.0, nastier and with even less common sense.”
In addition to Sarah Ferguson, Twitter users also pointed out similarities between Meghan's actions and those of another royal family member, Camilla.
The Duchess of Cornwall has previously shown her love for reading by engaging with school children during public appearances.
She also launched the Reading Room, a celebration of literature, last December, where she offers book recommendations and creates a community for book lovers.
Meghan released The Bench on June 8 and spoke about the importance of representation in the illustrations.
She aimed to ensure that every family could see themselves in the book, regardless of their background or appearance.
Meghan shared that her son Archie loves the book and expressed her joy in being able to say, “Mommy wrote this for you.”
While Meghan's video received mixed reactions, it is clear that her book has resonated with readers, including her own son.
The accusations of copying other royal family members may continue, but Meghan remains focused on spreading a message of inclusivity through her work.