Meghan Markle has entered the Christmas hamper market for the first time, launching a new hostess basket for her lifestyle brand As Ever this week.
The Duchess of Sussex unveiled the festive collection shortly after Buckingham Palace released its own rival line of 2026 Christmas hampers and holiday items.
Named 'The Hostess Basket', the brand's new wicker basket features a leather As Ever tag with gold lettering. It comes pre-filled with peppermint tea caddies, lemon-and-ginger tea caddies, a trio of spreads, flower sprinkles, and Meghan's scented candles.
While the exact price of the new basket has not yet been announced, a similar hosting set from the brand, known as 'The Go-To Hostess Gift', contains many of the same products and costs $155 (£117).
The Duchess, 45, teased the first instalment of the As Ever Holiday Collection in a newsletter sent to subscribers yesterday evening, titled 'Merriment in the making'.
The newsletter promised pieces to share, savour, gift, and make part of your own traditions, with pre-orders for the line opening on October 6.
"The holidays have a way of reminding us how much joy can be found in the moments that make up a life," the newsletter read. "They invite us to gather a little closer, to make things with our hands, to set the table with care, and to give generously to the people we love."
"This season's collection was created in that same spirit, with pieces to share, savour, gift, and make part of your own traditions," the newsletter continued. "Mark your calendar: The Holiday Collection, Chapter One, opens on October 6th."
Buckingham Palace hamper collection
Meghan's market entry comes as Buckingham Palace unveiled its own hamper collection for 2026, which includes eight different royal hampers ranging up to an unfilled customisable offering starting at £45.
The most affordable pre-filled royal option, 'The Sweet Treats Hamper', retails for £70. It includes chocolate chip shortbread biscuits from the royal household, clotted cream fudge, salted caramel chocolate, chocolate bars, and a tin of hot chocolate.
Described as featuring a tempting selection of Buckingham Palace favourites, the hamper forms part of a wider festive range released by the Royal Collection Trust, which manages the royal gift shops.
The Royal Collection Trust announced on September 28 that its official Christmas Shop will return to the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace from November 13.
On October 2, an official post on the gift shop's Instagram page revealed several new launches, including festive treats, thoughtful gifts, and decorations inspired by royal tradition.
Among the new items for this season are hand-finished Christmas tree decorations, including a £20 corgi wearing a crown in a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace has also introduced the Royal Festive Pantry range of fine foods, featuring mince pies, festive preserves, and gingerbread biscuits.
Festive items and botanical chocolates
In addition to the wicker hostess basket, Meghan's new Christmas range features 'The Keepsake Double-Deck Parlour Card Set' carrying the As Ever logo.
She is also selling a trifecta of 'Botanical Confections' chocolate bars created as part of an ongoing collaboration between As Ever and Los Angeles luxury brand Compartes.
The chocolate bars are available in Ginger Lemon, Lavender Honey, and Hibiscus Rose flavours.
Earlier versions of the As Ever x Compartes luxury chocolates were priced at $12 (£9) a bar, though some shoppers found ingredients such as hemp hearts and bee pollen off-putting, describing them as weird and insane.
The new Holiday Collection follows Meghan's decision last week to open pre-orders for a £112 chocolate advent calendar, which is available exclusively to customers in the United States, with delivery expected early next month.
Inspired by her Montecito home and garden in California, the keepsake calendar features a festive illustration of the £11 million mansion she and Prince Harry called home for six years.
Advent calendar comparison and teasers
A press release declared that "every detail was considered with care, including countdown numbers hand-painted in Meghan's own penmanship using edible gold lustre".
The advent calendar features strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and orange marmalade flavours, alongside a Compartes dark chocolate ganache truffle and a special chocolate finished with Meghan's own flower sprinkles.
The press release added that Meghan's handwriting turns "each day's reveal into a small, personal moment".
At $148 (£111), Meghan's luxury advent calendar is nearly £100 more expensive than Buckingham Palace's comparable milk chocolate calendar.
The royal version, weighing 95g and priced at £12 on the Royal Collection Trust website, is said to capture the magic of the festive season across three royal residences, including Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The royal chocolate calendar design includes a lavishly decorated Christmas tree topped with a crown, two Union flags, and ceremonial guardsmen standing watch at the iconic locations.
Buckingham Palace is also launching an unfilled advent calendar this month starting at £25. The white box features a winter illustration of Buckingham Palace and is completely customisable.
Fillers for the royal calendar are sold separately, including £5 Buckingham Palace chocolate coins, £10 honey from Balmoral, £12 hand creams, and £45 Her Life In Style bag charms created to honour the late Queen's fashion exhibition.
Ahead of her launch, Meghan posted an Instagram video showing her driving a golf cart alongside Compartes creative director Jonathan Grahm around an unidentified estate.
The Duchess could be heard shouting "Hang on!" as Grahm added "Stay tuned!" while they shared a laugh together.
Set to Michael Bublé's hit song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), the video was captioned 'Christmas planning in June' and featured early artwork prints alongside footage of her black labrador Pula carrying an As Ever plushie toy.
The teaser video followed an October 2 Instagram post showing Meghan stirring a copper saucepan in a kitchen fitted with a stainless steel cooker, oak cabinets, and ceramic dishes.
Captioning the post to her 887,000 followers, the Duchess wrote that "the season of giving is almost here, and we have a few surprises in store".
Two days later on October 4, after debuting her first advent calendar, she again hinted at having surprises in store before issuing yesterday's subscriber newsletter.
