In her annual festive shopping guide, Oprah Winfrey has endorsed Meghan Markle’s As Ever hamper as an ideal gift. Anyone hoping to follow the television host’s recommendation, however, will need to spend between $250 and $535.
The Duchess of Sussex’s hampers are the priciest items in her lifestyle brand’s Christmas collection—an impressive distinction given that the As Ever chocolate advent calendar alone costs £112 ($148).
Released last month, the former actress’s new range of ready-to-gift wicker baskets arrived just days after Buckingham Palace introduced a similar selection of festive offerings.
Unlike Highgrove’s comparatively accessible prices, Meghan’s hampers command a considerable sum. The most expensive is The Library Basket, billed as “the perfect gift for a quiet evening at home,” which sells for £404 ($535).
Presented as a “small wicker gift basket,” it includes a double-deck parlour card set, leather notebook, bookmark, coaster set, two signature candles and a limited-edition As Ever matchbox. Customers can also add a bow at no extra cost.
Those looking to keep spending under control will find little relief in the Candle Lover’s Basket, priced at a remarkable £309 ($410). The set contains three $64 candles, a $98 Two-Wick Holiday Candle and a limited-edition As Ever matchbox.
Even one of Meghan’s least expensive Christmas hampers, the As Ever Signature Basket, costs £188 ($250). It has nevertheless received a public endorsement from her friend Oprah.
The presenter included the product in her 2026 holiday gift guide. Meghan’s six other costly hampers, priced from £159 to £404, did not make the selection.
“Who doesn’t love a beautifully made picnic hamper?” read a post from Oprah Daily. “And this one from As Ever will surely bring delight and deliciousness. It’s filled with fruit spreads, chocolates, herbal teas and a candle—all curated by the Duchess herself.”
The Duchess of Sussex’s hampers form her most expensive collection, a notable distinction given that her chocolate advent calendar alone costs £112 ($148).
The As Ever Signature Basket (pictured), one of Meghan’s more affordable Christmas hampers at £188 ($250), has received the public endorsement of her close friend Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan’s collection comes with a significant price tag. The Library Basket (pictured) is the most expensive option at £404 ($535).
Meghan’s Christmas hampers come with hefty price tags
The royal’s Christmas hamper range includes several other products with substantial price tags. The Afternoon Tea Basket, for example, costs £247 ($328).
Marketed as “the perfect gift for leisurely afternoons,” it contains Herbal Peppermint Tea, Herbal Hibiscus Tea, Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, a Honey Duo Gift Box, two spice kits, a signature fruit spread gift box and a chocolate bar gift box.
Aimed at those with a sweet tooth, The Pantry Basket is filled with “pantry staples” intended to be shared. It is priced at £195 ($259).
The contents include the Signature Fruit Spread Gift Box, Honey Duo Gift Box, Flower Sprinkles, Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea, Herbal Hibiscus Tea, Herbal Peppermint Tea, Hot Toddy Mulling Spice Kit and Spiced Cider Mulling Spice Kit.
The Parlour Basket costs $242 (£148) and is described as a “whimsical gift for anyone who relishes in a little friendly competition during the holiday season.”
Designed for “an evening of games and gathering,” it contains playing cards, the As Ever x Compartés Botanical Confections Chocolate Bar Trio, Hot Toddy Mulling Spice Kit, Spiced Cider Mulling Spice Kit and Signature Candle No. 084.
The most affordable Christmas hamper in the range is The Hostess Basket. Described as “the perfect gift for a holiday gathering,” it costs £159 ($211).
Positioned as an introduction to the As Ever brand, the wicker basket contains many of the same products as another As Ever set, The Go-To Hostess Gift, which costs $155 (£117).
Meghan’s expensive Christmas hampers stand in sharp contrast to some of the more affordable products available through Buckingham Palace.
Highgrove’s most expensive Christmas hamper costs £475, but includes an impressive 19 “carefully selected products to amaze and delight.” Several other hampers are also priced below £100.
The Candle Lover’s Basket costs £309 ($410), offering little savings for shoppers hoping to spend less this Christmas. It includes five of the brand’s candles and a limited-edition As Ever matchbox.
Palace Christmas treats undercut Meghan’s prices
The most affordable royal option, The Sweet Treats Hamper, costs £70. It contains chocolate chip shortbread biscuits from the royal household, clotted cream fudge, salted caramel chocolate, chocolate bars and a tin of hot chocolate.
The Highgrove Taster Christmas Hamper, filled with the “finest organic foods,” is priced at £85, while the Taste of Christmas Hamper costs £95.
New additions to the Buckingham Palace Shop this season include hand-finished tree decorations, including a corgi wearing a crown as a tribute to the late Queen, as well as the Royal Festive Pantry range of fine foods.
The Palace’s King Chocolate advent calendar costs £12, weighs 95g and “captures the magic of the festive season” at three royal residences, including Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Like Meghan’s £112 As Ever calendar, the Palace version contains 24 chocolates—but it costs considerably less than the £112 “Montecito-inspired” calendar sold by her lifestyle brand.
Available only in the US, the Duchess’s limited-edition Christmas calendar contains treats made by Los Angeles gourmet chocolatier Compartés.
Its design features a sketch of the £11 million Californian mansion where Meghan and Prince Harry lived for six years, along with “countdown numbers hand-painted in Meghan’s own penmanship using edible gold lustre.”
The flavours include strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade, as well as a “special chocolate finished with Meghan’s own flower sprinkles.”
The Palace has also introduced an unfilled advent calendar, with prices starting at £25. The white box features a winter illustration of Buckingham Palace and can be customised by shoppers.
The treats are sold separately and include £5 Buckingham Palace chocolate coins, £7 honey from Balmoral, a £12 hand cream and a £43 bag charm.
Meghan’s most expensive hamper, The Library Basket, includes a double-deck parlour card set, leather notebook, bookmark, coaster set, two signature candles and a limited-edition As Ever matchbox. A bow can also be added free of charge.
Meghan’s costly Christmas hamper collection differs sharply from Buckingham Palace’s more accessible offerings. The Sweet Treats Hamper, pictured, costs £70.
Meghan unveils expensive Christmas gift collection
The debut Christmas hamper range follows Meghan’s launch last month of As Ever’s festive collection, which is available to shoppers in the United States only.
The new products include a $130 heirloom handwoven rattan charger set and a blue-and-white porcelain teapot priced at $98, or approximately £73.
Shoppers can also purchase the $98 Penny for Your Thoughts leather notebook, described on the As Ever website as a “simple luxury for everyday use and enjoyment.”
A Signature Two-Wick Holiday Candle, priced at $98, is another addition to the range.
Billed as a “limited-edition scent of the holiday,” the candle combines notes of pine, berry, cashmere and clove. As Ever recommends pairing it with Meghan’s $410 Candle Lover’s Basket.
Customers can spend $75 on a Trophy Chocolate Bar Gift Set containing five “beloved” bars. The limited-edition chocolates were created with Los Angeles-based Compartés, the chocolatier behind Meghan’s expensive advent calendar.
The collection also includes Meghan’s curated popcorn medley, which is priced at $65.
Described on the As Ever website as a “luxury taste of nostalgia,” the popcorn comes in milk chocolate, white chocolate and salted popcorn varieties, finished with Meghan’s signature flower sprinkles.
