These Are the Royal Family’s Favorite Books To Read to Their Kids

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

When visiting the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in March 2024, Meghan Markle read three beloved books to a group of kids who were reportedly “laughing and singing” as she “turned into character with every page,” per a statement. One of the books was Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. The Duchess of Sussex even sang the catchy groovy buttons song.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

During that same visit, Markle also read They All Saw A Cat (despite the statement saying she read “I Saw a Cat”). This story about curiosity and perspective is not only beloved by royals, but by teachers as well, per Amazon.

Nearly 3 thousand shoppers left glowing reviews about this “gorgeous, delightful book that delivers happiness to kids AND adults.”

“This is not just a story; it’s an invitation to explore the wonders of perception and diversity in the animal kingdom,” one shopper said. “Perfect for sparking conversations about empathy, science, and the beauty of seeing the world through different eyes.”

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Markle also read Rosie Revere, Engineer — not Rosie the Riveter. It’s an understandable mistake in the statement, though, given that Rosie Rever’s Great-Great Aunt Rose shows up wearing a red polka dot scarf and shares tales of building airplanes during World War II. One shopper called this the best children’s book they’ve read in years. “And I’ve read hundreds.”

“This book is everything,” another said. “…What did surprise me was just how much my [5-year-old] son loves it. Not only does he like it, but he gets the message!…HE. GETS. THIS. We’ve read it at least 5 times in the last 36 hours….It rhymes. It’s silly. It’s relatable. The illustrations are fantastic…The message is about failure and how it’s just the beginning. It’s about not giving up. This is something my son struggles with if he sees something as ‘too hard’ after the first try so this book is actually perfect for him too!”

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

Prince William is a big fan of Room on the Broom, a story about a kindly witch who loses her wand and gets the help of three animals in her quest to get it back. There’s also a hungry dragon involved! ‘I read this to our children all the time,” the royal said, per The Daily Mail. 

He also offered his compliments to the author, Julia Donaldson, when he met her in person. “Do you realize how many parents you have saved at bed time?” William asked. 

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Last year, Meghan Markle shared a video of herself reading Duck! Rabbit! to Prince Archie as part of an initiative to raise money for the charity Save the Children UK. Archie was adorably cracking up throughout the reading so you know it was some good content. 

TheNew York Times bestseller has sold more than 100,000 copies and allows readers to get to the bottom of a big question — is that a duck or a rabbit? 

Xtraordinary People Made By Dyslexia by Kate Griggs

Xtraordinary People is all about allowing children to see the very extraordinary strengths that come with having dyslexia. It’s also narrated by Princess Beatrice, who shares a personal connection to the material. 

“It’s no secret that I struggled with my dyslexia as a child and often even wished it away,” she said, per People. “But now I see it as a tremendous gift, and I want every dyslexic child to know that they too can tap into their dyslexic strengths.”

Little Red by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York

Follow along on the adventures of Little Red, who rescues a bunny stuck in the middle of a pond. The story was penned by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, who designed the young protagonist around her own childhood dreams.  

“When I was a little girl, I wanted to have a friend like Little Red,” the Duchess wrote on the back of the book. “She’s sweet and brave and funny and kind.” 

The Bench by Meghan Markle

This #1 New York Times bestseller tells the story of fathers and sons, as told through the eyes of a mother. Penned by Meghan Markle and featuring beautiful watercolors, the book has tons of five-star reviews on Amazon. 

“The book is lovely. Loved the message, the illustrations and the inclusiveness of different kinds of dads and kids,” one reader wrote. “I also purchased the audio book. Her voice is so soothing, it made me tear up a bit. Love it!”

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

You can never, ever go wrong with everyone’s favorite bear pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. Prince Harry reportedly gave a first edition copy of this book to his nephew Prince Louis for his christening, . 

Every kid should get the chance to head to Hundred Acre Wood!

Feelings by Libby Walden

Kate Middleton loves Feelings, a sweet, informative children’s book that allows kids to explore all the emotions they might experience in life.  

“This little book is a wonderful way to help children understand and recognise their feelings and emotions, and brings to life the importance of empathy,” Middleton said, according to Yahoo!

Katie Morag Island Stories by Mairi Hedderwick

Middleton is also a big fan of the Katie Morag series, which follows a young girl’s adventures in the fictional Isle of Struay.

The books are “fun stories for children of all ages and a great book for older children to read to younger siblings,” she said, and “filled with captivating and beautiful illustrations to accompany the text so there’s lots to talk about!”