The Duchess of Sussex has stepped into the festive confectionery market, unveiling a new line of luxury Christmas chocolate bars just 24 hours after her debut Netflix holiday special was met with a wave of scathing reviews from critics.
A Sweet Launch Amidst Sour Reviews
Meghan's limited-edition "Chocolate Holiday Trio" from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is being promoted as the perfect stocking filler or last-minute gift. Each 80g bar is priced at 12 US dollars, which is approximately £8.99, with purchases limited to two per customer. The bars feature custom botanical-print packaging.
This launch follows the immediate backlash to her Netflix programme, "With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration," which premiered on Wednesday. Critics were unsparing, with one branding the show "quite mad and a little bit sad" and others labelling its tone as condescending. Some reviewers even joked that viewers might need anti-nausea medication before watching.
What's Inside the Festive Trio?
The chocolate collection is said to incorporate Meghan's "beloved signature ingredients" designed to evoke nostalgia. The three flavours are:
- Dark chocolate with raspberry preserve and sea salt.
- White chocolate combined with flower sprinkles and hemp hearts, advertised as "as seen on With Love, Meghan".
- Milk chocolate containing shortbread biscuits and bee pollen.
As Ever describes the set, which was curated by Meghan and crafted by chocolatier Jonathan Grahm of Compartes, as "the most coveted set of the season." The flower sprinkles featured are also sold separately through As Ever for $15 (£11.23).
Connections to the Controversial Special
The chocolate launch is directly tied to the content of the Netflix show. During the programme, Meghan offers various pieces of festive advice, such as allowing Christmas tree decorations to "find their light" and explaining how advent calendars work, while encouraging viewers to make every day in December memorable.
The use of ingredients like flower sprinkles and hemp seed hearts mirrors their appearance throughout the first two series of her programme, creating a direct merchandising link to the streaming content.
The dual release strategy highlights the Sussexes' commercial approach, blending media production with direct-to-consumer product lines, even as the critical reception for the creative content remains fiercely divided.
