Meghan Markle’s $148 Christmas Drop Mocked As ‘Expensive Cardboard Box’

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Critics of Meghan Markle came remarkably close to predicting the price of her latest Christmas release, and now they are roasting what buyers receive for the money. The Duchess of Sussex officially opened preorders for As Ever’s limited-edition chocolate Advent calendar with a $148 price tag. The keepsake box contains 24 handcrafted chocolates inspired by Meghan’s fruit spreads, flower sprinkles, and Montecito garden. However, the luxury pricing quickly divided social media. One critic dismissed the product as an “expensive cardboard box with a few chocolates thrown in,” while others calculated how many conventional holiday treats they could purchase for the same amount.

Meghan Markle’s Advent Calendar Costs $148

The As Ever x Compartés Advent calendar became available for preorder on October 1 after Meghan teased the festive collaboration one day earlier. According to People, the $148 calendar contains 24 chocolates featuring flavors inspired by As Ever’s strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and orange marmalade spreads. The collection also includes dark chocolate ganache truffles and a piece incorporating Meghan’s signature Flower Sprinkles. Each chocolate is finished with a countdown number rendered in the duchess’ handwriting using edible gold luster. The navy keepsake box depicts Meghan and Prince Harry’s Montecito residence decorated for Christmas, complete with palm trees, chickens, and other references to their California property. Deliveries are expected to begin in November ahead of the traditional Advent countdown.

Critics Nearly Predicted The Exact Price

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The confirmed figure immediately revived comments made before As Ever revealed the calendar’s price. As The Blast previously reported, one critic predicted that Meghan would charge between $100 and $150 for the seasonal release.

“I imagine she’s going to charge at least $100-$150 for it,” the commenter wrote while accusing the product of being “overpriced and underwhelming.”

The actual $148 price landed only $2 below the top of that estimate. A similar guessing game unfolded on Reddit, where one participant specifically predicted a $150 price tag. After As Ever confirmed the cost, the user celebrated the near-perfect guess.

“And my gut instinct was right! $148?!” the commenter wrote. The accuracy of those predictions gave critics fresh ammunition after they had already questioned the calendar’s originality and value.

Christmas Drop Mocked As ‘Expensive Cardboard Box’

The price became the main target once photographs and product details began circulating on Reddit.

“It looks like she’s selling an expensive cardboard box with a few chocolates thrown in. No thanks,” one critic wrote. Another commenter argued that $148 could instead purchase “a really nice box of chocolate” for every member of their family.

“For $148 I could [buy] my ENTIRE family a really nice box of chocolate EACH,” the user remarked. Others compared the cost with conventional Advent calendars and calculated that each of the 24 chocolates effectively cost more than $6.

“$148 US / 24 chocolates is stupid!” one Reddit user declared.

At $148, the release also costs significantly more than many premium chocolate Advent calendars currently available from established confectionery brands. Another discussion concluded that As Ever had priced its calendar “roughly $30–$50 overpriced,” even after accounting for the Compartés collaboration and keepsake packaging. The commenter estimated that a more reasonable price would have fallen between $90 and $120, depending on the quality and size of the chocolates, writing that the current price appeared aimed at “die-hard fans.”

Buyers Are Paying For Meghan Markle’s Personal Touches

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While the calendar carries a premium price, it is not being marketed as an ordinary box of chocolates. Its design draws heavily on Meghan’s personal life, beginning with the illustrated recreation of her family’s Montecito estate. The chocolates also incorporate flavors connected to products already sold under the As Ever name. The countdown numbers provide another distinctly personal detail because they were recreated from Meghan’s handwriting and applied using edible gold luster. The box is meant to be kept after Christmas rather than discarded once the chocolates are gone. As Ever describes it as a keepsake and positions it as a limited-edition gift for customers interested in Meghan’s lifestyle brand.

The collaboration also involves Compartés, the Los Angeles chocolatier known for colorful packaging and unconventional flavor combinations. Those details may help explain the cost, but they have not persuaded critics who believe shoppers are primarily paying for Meghan’s celebrity and access to imagery associated with her private home.

Not Everyone Thinks The Calendar Is Overpriced

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The backlash was not unanimous. In a separate Reddit discussion, one commenter responded to the controversy by writing, “$148? That’s it?” The user compared the cost with even more expensive luxury Advent calendars marketed to specialized shoppers. Supporters have also pointed out that the product is aimed at customers who already purchase premium chocolates, celebrity collaborations, and collectible holiday packaging, not people searching for the least expensive Advent option.

Previous As Ever releases have sold out quickly, suggesting that Meghan does not need every shopper to consider the calendar affordable. Limited quantities could create demand among supporters regardless of the online criticism. Still, the final price has given detractors a new reason to revisit their earlier complaints. They predicted Meghan’s Christmas offering would land near $150, and at $148, they were almost exactly right.

• Meghan Markle faced fresh privacy criticism after a friend shared photos from her new UK residence.
• Prince William was reportedly “horrified” by Harry and Meghan’s alleged reason for returning to Britain.
• King Charles was urged to strip the Sussexes and their children of their royal titles.
• A technical mishap saw Prince Harry forced offstage and mocked during a US speaking engagement.
• Meghan’s appearance at a UK pub sparked accusations that the photographs were “staged.”
• King Charles was warned that his handling of Harry and Meghan could make him appear to be “giving in.”

The Meghan Markle’s $148 Christmas Drop Mocked As ‘Expensive Cardboard Box’ first appeared on The Blast