Meghan Markle is expanding her As Ever brand with a holiday collection that includes a “Hostess Basket,” a chocolate advent calendar, chocolate bars and a parlour card set. According to Page Six, the product lineup has drawn attention because several items closely resemble Buckingham Palace’s recently released seasonal hampers. The Duchess of Sussex’s wicker basket comes with a leather As Ever tag and includes teas, fruit spreads, flower sprinkles and scented candles. A price has not yet been posted, with the basket listed as “coming soon” in the brand’s latest newsletter.
Meghan Markle Adds Basket and Advent Calendar
The new range leans heavily into hosting and gifting. Alongside the basket, Markle is releasing a $148 chocolate-filled advent calendar made with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, plus a trio of chocolate bars. The newsletter framed the launch around home rituals and holiday traditions. “The holidays have a way of reminding us how much joy can be found in the moments that make up a life,” Markle said according to Page Six. The collection also includes a double-deck parlour card set, adding a game-night element to the seasonal release.
Buckingham Palace Offers Hampers at Lower Prices
The palace’s own holiday products arrived weeks earlier and cover similar ground. Its wicker hampers range from about $60 to $200 and include food, sweets and home items. The Buckingham Palace Christmas Hamper, priced at $192.50, contains a gingerbread chocolate bar, shortbread, chutney, mince pies, biscuits, Christmas pudding and an official 2026 bauble. Another option, the Pamper Hamper, includes bath products and crown-embroidered slippers. The palace is also selling a chocolate advent calendar priced at $15.93, a much lower entry point than Markle’s version.
Meghan Markle Ties Launch to Her Early Business Years
Markle also used Instagram to connect the launch with her childhood interest in business. She wrote about making handmade scrunchies on her grandmother’s sewing machine and selling them for $1 each, while also recalling Girl Scout cookies, lemonade stands and a frozen yogurt job. “My entrepreneurial spirit was always there,” Markle told followers. She also thanked her team and said she felt proud of how far the brand had come. The post positioned the holiday collection as part of a longer personal story rather than a one-off seasonal release.
As Ever Expansion Follows Earlier Brand Disputes
The launch lands after a difficult stretch for the business. In 2025, Markle rebranded from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever after trademark hurdles. Soon after, a New York clothing label using the same name said it was aware of the duchess’s new venture and stressed that the two businesses were not connected. Those issues added to earlier public claims that some of Markle’s lifestyle and media ideas mirrored existing brands. This time, the overlap being discussed centers on baskets, hampers and advent calendars just as the royal holiday retail season gets underway.
