Charity's £6 advent calendar sells out after Meghan's fans turned on priests who dared to suggest it

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Sales of a £6 leprosy charity advent calendar have soared after Sussex Squad fans turned on two Anglican priests for highlighting it as an alternative to Meghan's £112 As Ever chocolate calendar. The Leprosy Mission's chief executive Amanda Norman said hundreds of new orders had flooded in. Anglican priest and London university chaplain the Rev Daniel French had done no more than share the charity option on social media, while fellow priest Chris Phillips was driven to make his Twitter account private after a barrage of online abuse.

Meghan promoted the £112 gourmet chocolate calendar through an online advert in which she reportedly wore £75,000 worth of clothing and jewellery.

Amanda Norman said buyers were choosing to support 'people affected by leprosy, rather than waste money on expensive celebrity advent calendars.'

The charity calendar, described by supporters as 'the real Advent calendar,' includes Fairtrade chocolate and a booklet on the meaning of Christmas.