00:00Meghan Markle's pricey advent calendar has sparked an online feud after two British priests
00:05criticized the holiday offering and suggested a cheaper alternative.
00:09The Duchess of Sussex is selling a luxury advent calendar through her As Ever lifestyle
00:14brand in collaboration with Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartise.
00:19The calendar contains 24 chocolates and costs £112, or about $148.
00:24According to the Daily Mail, the controversy began when Reverend Daniel French, an Anglican
00:30priest and London University chaplain, weighed in on Meghan's holiday product online.
00:35Rather than recommending Meghan's calendar, French encouraged his followers to consider
00:39an $8 Christian advent calendar from the Meaningful Chocolate Company.
00:43That calendar includes fair trade chocolate, a Christmas story, and an activity booklet,
00:48while also supporting the leprosy mission.
00:51French's post reportedly drew angry responses from some members of the so-called Sussex
00:55Squad, with critics calling him names, including Evil and Satan's Spawn.
01:01One person also accused the priest of having an ugly heart for a so-called Christian.
01:07Father Chris Phillips, a priest in southwest London, then showed his support for French
01:11on X, saying he had encountered the Sussex Squad on here.
01:15According to the Daily Mail, Phillips was subsequently met with his own wave of hostile messages, and
01:20eventually locked his account and blocked some Meghan supporters.
01:24The backlash comes as Meghan continues expanding as ever, including with the new holiday collection.
01:30Along with the $148 advent calendar, the collection features a hostess basket containing teas, fruit
01:37spreads, flower sprinkles, and scented candles.
01:40The controversy comes during the Sussex's first Christmas, after returning to the UK earlier
01:45this year.
01:46Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to Britain with their children, 7-year-old Prince Archie,
01:50and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet in August.
01:53Since then, Meghan has been settling into a new routine in Oxfordshire, including regular
01:58Reformer Pilates classes at Soho Farmhouse.
02:02The family has also dealt with security concerns surrounding their children's new school, and
02:07reportedly pulled them out just two days into the term.
