Two British priests have become the latest targets of online abuse from supporters of Meghan Markle after publicly criticising the price of a chocolate advent calendar sold by the Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle brand.
Anglican priest Daniel French encouraged his followers to choose a cheaper, charitable option rather than the $148 chocolate advent calendar offered by Meghan's As Ever brand, prompting an onslaught of criticism from members of the so-called Sussex Squad. Protestant priest Chris Phillips attempted to defend his fellow clergyman but then faced a separate wave of social media attacks, with critics calling the priests poor representatives of Christianity and accusing them of using their platforms to attack Meghan.
The controversy centres on the As Ever holiday collection, which also includes a Hostess Basket featuring teas, fruit spreads, flower sprinkles and scented candles. Some observers have noted similarities between the As Ever offerings and Buckingham Palace's own 2026 festive hamper collection, drawing comparisons that have only added fuel to the dispute.
The row threatens to overshadow what should be a milestone first Christmas back in Britain for the Sussexes, who returned to the UK in August with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Since the move, Meghan has been settling into a new routine that reportedly includes reformer Pilates classes at Soho Farmhouse's Wellness Barn in Oxfordshire. But the family has also faced security concerns surrounding their children's new school, from which the children were pulled just two days into term.
As Ever has grown into an increasingly prominent commercial enterprise for Meghan, expanding from its initial lifestyle products into seasonal collections. Critics argue the brand trades on royal associations without royal approval, while supporters say she is being subjected to unfair scrutiny that other celebrity entrepreneurs would not face.
The priests' experience has reignited debate about the intensity of online fan culture surrounding the Sussexes. Religious commentators noted the irony that clerics urging charitable giving at Christmas became targets of abuse in the name of defending a $148 luxury item. Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives of the As Ever brand have commented on the episode. For now, the advent calendar remains on sale, and the countdown to what promises to be a closely watched Sussex Christmas has begun. The contrast is striking: clerics urging Christians to give charitably during the festive season were cast as villains by online defenders of a celebrity lifestyle label, a dynamic that royal commentators say shows how ferocious the Sussex culture war has become. Whether the episode damages As Ever's holiday sales or simply gives the brand more publicity remains to be seen, but the priests have made clear they will not be backing down from their message about charitable giving.