Buckingham Palace has unveiled its 2026 advent calendars, with the King’s chocolate-filled design priced £100 less than Meghan Markle’s lavish As Ever offering.
Weighing 95g, the calendar is available through the Royal Collection Trust website and is designed to evoke the festive atmosphere of royal landmarks including Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Palace calendar contains 24 chocolates, matching the Duchess of Sussex’s As Ever version, but comes at a far lower price than the £112 “Montecito-inspired” product sold by Meghan’s lifestyle brand.
Meghan’s limited-edition Christmas calendar is sold exclusively in the United States and arrives filled with chocolates made by Los Angeles gourmet chocolatier Compartés.
Its packaging features an illustration of the £11 million California home where Meghan and Prince Harry lived for six years, while the countdown numbers are described as being hand-painted in Meghan’s handwriting with edible gold lustre.
The selection includes strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade flavours, along with a special chocolate decorated with sprinkles made from Meghan’s own flower design.
The Royal Collection Trust has also introduced a second advent calendar that comes empty, with prices beginning at £25.
Due to launch later this month, the white calendar depicts Buckingham Palace in a snowy winter setting. Its customisable format allows shoppers to decide what items will be placed behind each of the 24 doors.
Optional gifts include £5 Buckingham Palace chocolate coins, £7 Balmoral honey, a £12 hand cream and a £43 bag charm, all available to purchase separately.
Meghan Markle’s £112 chocolate advent calendar costs £100 more than Buckingham Palace’s £12 version
Both the Duchess of Sussex’s “Holiday Advent Calendar” and the Palace design contain 24 chocolates, but the royal version is considerably cheaper than As Ever’s “Montecito-inspired” calendar
The royal chocolate calendar is decorated with an elaborate Christmas tree topped by a crown, two Union flags and ceremonial guardsmen said to be standing watch over the famous royal residences.
The Royal Collection Trust said on September 28 that its Christmas Shop will return to Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews on November 13.
A post shared by the shop’s official Instagram account on October 2 teased several new products, including festive food, gift ideas and decorations influenced by royal traditions.
Two days later, Meghan suggested that As Ever shoppers could expect more announcements after introducing the brand’s first advent calendar.
The accompanying image showed the Duchess stirring a copper pan in an elegant kitchen featuring a stainless-steel cooker, oak cabinetry and finely decorated ceramic tableware.
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“The season of giving is almost here, and we have a few surprises in store,” the caption said, without revealing what those surprises might be to the account’s 887,000 followers.
Buckingham Palace Shop’s seasonal collection also includes hand-finished Christmas tree decorations, among them a crowned corgi created as a tribute to the late Queen, alongside a selection of new hampers.
Priced at £70, the Sweet Treat Hamper contains a range of Buckingham Palace favourites, including chocolate chip shortbread, clotted cream fudge and hot chocolate.
The Royal Collection Trust has also launched its Royal Festive Pantry, featuring seasonal foods such as mince pies, festive preserves and hot chocolate.
Meghan’s new advent calendar has been created in collaboration with Compartes’ creative director Jonathan Grahm.
A press release declared ‘every detail was considered with care, including countdown numbers hand-painted in Meghan’s own penmanship using edible gold lustre’.
The Palace has also unveiled a new unfilled advent calendar, with prices starting at £25
Flavours include strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade, plus what is described as a ‘special chocolate finished with Meghan’s own flower sprinkles’.
Compartés’s dark chocolate ganache truffle also features in the calendar, with Meghan’s writing said to turn ‘each day’s reveal into a small, personal moment’.
The product is priced at $148 (£112) and is available to pre-order in the US on As Ever’s website, with delivery from early next month.
Meghan’s business described this as the ‘latest chapter in an ongoing collaboration between the two brands’, after the $12 (£9) As Ever x Compartés chocolate bars.
Ahead of the product launch, Meghan shared a video of her and Mr Grahm zooming around an unidentified estate on a golf cart on her Instagram Stories.
The duchess, who was behind the wheel, could be heard saying ‘Hang on!’ as Mr Grahm added ‘Stay tuned!’ and they enjoyed a laugh together.
The clip was set to Michael Bublé’s hit Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and captioned ‘Christmas planning in June’.
Meghan also included early prints of the box’s artwork and footage of her beloved black Labrador Pula carrying an As Ever plushie toy in her mouth while the duchess lovingly stroked her head.
READ MORE: Is this Meghan’s new kitchen? Duchess showcases luxurious farmhouse-inspired room in As Ever promo with oak cabinets, stainless steel cooker and marble surfaces
