Buckingham Palace has unveiled the sale of its brand new Advent calendar, and it is significantly cheaper than Meghan Markle's Montecito mansion-inspired one. Available now from the Royal Collection Trust, the calendar "captures the magic of the festive season" at the three royal residences, including Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Like Meghan's, the new calendar features 24 chocolates and costs just £12 [$15]. Released by her brand, As Ever, Meghan's new calendar will set fans back £112 [$148]. The Duchess of Sussex's latest release is also only available to fans in the US, despite her move back to the UK in August.
Royal design details
The design of the royal chocolate advent calendar includes a lavishly decorated Christmas tree with a crown topper and two Union flags. It also includes ceremonial guardsmen who "stand watch at these iconic locations".
The palace also unveiled a new unfilled calendar featuring a sketch of the London-based residence during the winter months on the white box. It is also entirely customisable, which means that customers can choose what goes behind each countdown number.
The surprises are sold separately and include £5 Buckingham Palace chocolate coins, £7 honey from Balmoral, a £12 hand cream and a £43 bag charm. The prices for this calendar start at £25 [$33].
Christmas shop return
The Royal Collection Trust recently announced that its Christmas Shop will return to the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace from November 13. Just days later, a post on the gift shop's official Instagram page revealed several new launches featuring "festive treats, thoughtful gifts, and decorations inspired by royal tradition".
Just two days after the palace's announcement on October 2, Meghan shared that there are a "few surprises in store" for As Ever customers. "The season of giving is almost here, and we have a few surprises in store," read the post's caption, with no further details of the 'surprises' given to the account's thousands of followers.
As Ever calendar details
The As Ever calendar includes chocolate finished with "Meghan's own flower sprinkles," with flavours spanning strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade alongside Compartés's signature dark chocolate ganache truffle.
Following the reveal of the new As Ever calendar, fans are clearly excited, with many sharing their thoughts on X ahead of the release, with one adding, "It’s stunning!" Another wrote: "I am on this! Love that chocolate and the Advent calendar, filled with chocolate, what a great concept!"
An email sent from As Ever to excited potential buyers shared that delivery would begin in November, "just in time" for the festive season. The email concluded with: "Some things are worth the wait."
Ahead of the product launch, Meghan also shared an Instagram video of her and a male friend zooming around on a golf cart. The video states that it was taken in June, just a few weeks before Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan and her friend are seen laughing whilst staring directly at the camera, which Meghan appears to be holding. Fans, however, were not impressed by the video, with one writing that it was "cringe", adding: "So cringe given their house is the laughing stock of Montecito bc it’s so hilariously dated. It needed a torch and a gut renovation when they bought it. Putting it on a sh**** advent calendar she’ll be discounting in yet another ‘bundle’ when she can’t shift them is not a flex." Another wrote: "Super fake."
Some, however, added that she did look radiant and joyful, with one writing, "She looks so radiant [teary-eyed emoji]," whilst another posted screenshots of Meghan from the video, writing, "Lovely Meghan [black-heart emoji]."
