Meghan Markle has been accused by fans of copying King Charles after releasing the first part of her Christmas collection for her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The Duchess of Sussex announced the launch of her new collection on Tuesday evening with a newsletter to her fans.
The newsletter read: “The wait is over. A collection of thoughtful gifts, festive favourites, and little luxuries, chosen to bring joy to everyone on your list. Thoughtfully curated and beautifully packaged, these are gifts meant to be shared, savoured, and remembered.”
As Ever Festive Collection Details
As Ever’s festive collection includes a chocolate trio, a chocolate-covered fruit gift box, a parlour card set, her advent calendar, which is coming back in stock, and three festive hamper baskets.
The most luxurious of them all, the pantry basket, comes with a hefty price tag of £195 ($259). It includes the Signature Fruit Spread Gift Box, Honey Duo Gift Box, Flower Sprinkles, Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, Herbal Hibiscus Tea, Herbal Peppermint Tea, Hot Toddy Mulling Spice Kit and Spiced Cider Mulling Spice Kit.
Comparison With Highgrove Hampers
Fans took notice of how similar Meghan’s wicker baskets are to the King’s Highgrove ones, which were also released around the same period ahead of Christmas. Highgrove’s Classic Christmas Hamper, the most popular out of the seven baskets in total, contains a selection of “traditional favourites to enjoy throughout the day”.
It features the Highgrove Côtes du Rhone, the Organic Prince of Wales Loose Tea Tin, Organic House Marmalade, Organic Strawberry Preserve, Organic Christmas Shortbread, a Handcrafted Festive Chocolate Box and Handmade Butter Fudge (230g). The basket costs £120 and is currently out of stock online.
The most expensive option, Highgrove’s Christmas Banquet Hamper, costs a whopping £475 but offers a much more generous selection of drinks. It contains 19 products, including Highgrove’s Cuvée Champagne Blanc, a Côtes du Rhône, a Mâçon Davaye, Highgrove’s Organic Garden Botanic Gin, a Laphroaig 12-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Whisky, an Organic Reserve Port, the Organic Prince of Wales Loose Tea Tin, Organic Christmas Preserve, Organic Brandy Butter, Organic Strawberry Preserve, Organic Orange & Whisky Marmalade, Organic Lemon Curd, Organic Spiced Fruit Chutney, Organic Wholegrain Mustard, Organic Christmas Pudding, Organic Christmas Shortbread, Handmade Butter Fudge, Organic Mulled Wine Spice Bag and an embroidered Highgrove Crown Tea Towel.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
One user wrote on X: “I know which one I'd choose! This Highgrove one is only £130 with all profits & proceeds going to charity! As ever, Megs is no competition, lol”
Another one added: “Interesting, she seems to copy Highgrove as opposed to launching products that seem authentic to her. I guess it’s easier than figuring out your own brand. Her only connection to the UK is who she married.”
A third one blasted: “She's only copying the Royal Family and I wouldn't waste my money on anything from Meghan Markle, she can't sell in the UK because she has to list the real ingredients and so forth. I'm pleased we have those laws in the UK, you wouldn't know what you're eating without them.”
A fourth one said: “Yawn #meghanmarkle once again cosplaying the real royals. First, it was copying beekeeping & honey, wine, gardening, spread (not even jam-adjacent), etc. I guess if you're going to plagiarise - copy the actual KING. I know whose jams & baskets I'd buy & that's KCIII's.”
