Meghan Markle Fans 'Sussex Squad' Accused of Terrorising Priest Who Slammed Her £112 Advent Calendar

Meghan Markle's £112 Advent calendar has sparked an unexpected online row after an Anglican priest criticised its price and suggested shoppers consider a much cheaper Christian alternative. The backlash reportedly became so intense that another priest who defended him locked his social-media account and blocked several critics.

The dispute has placed the so-called 'Sussex Squad' — a term commonly used for some particularly vocal supporters of Meghan and Prince Harry — under scrutiny over the way some members responded to criticism of the Duchess.

Priest Presents £5.99 Alternative to Meghan's Calendar

Reverend Daniel French, an Anglican priest and university chaplain, drew attention to Meghan's luxury chocolate Advent calendar after it launched through her As Ever lifestyle brand.

The calendar, produced in collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, costs £112 and contains 24 handcrafted chocolates. Its packaging is inspired by Meghan and Prince Harry's former Montecito home and garden.

Rather than simply criticising the product, French pointed his followers towards a £5.99 Christian Advent calendar from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. He highlighted that the cheaper calendar contains Fairtrade chocolate, supports The Leprosy Mission and includes a booklet explaining the meaning of Christmas.

Priest's Comments Trigger Furious Response

French's comparison quickly attracted thousands of views and a wave of hostile replies from some Meghan supporters. According to reports, some critics branded him 'Satan spawn' and 'evil', while another accused him of having an 'ugly heart for a so-called Christian'. Others called him 'shady' and 'self-righteous'.

The response was not limited to disagreement over the price of Meghan's product. Personal criticism of French became a major part of the online dispute.

French subsequently restricted his account, with reports saying he blocked several pro-Meghan users following the backlash.

Father Chris Phillips Also Becomes A Target

The controversy escalated when Father Chris Phillips, a vicar at All Saints Benhilton in Sutton, south London, publicly backed French.

Phillips later wrote that he had 'encountered the Sussex Squad on here', adding: 'Wow.' His intervention prompted another wave of angry responses from Meghan supporters.

Some users accused Phillips of trolling Meghan and behaving hypocritically as a Christian. One commenter argued that he was attacking a woman he had never met, while another called him a 'disgrace to the cloth'.

Phillips explained that the comparison was not about promoting his own church, writing that he was contrasting an expensive product with an affordable alternative connected to the religious meaning of Christmas. He later deleted the response and locked his account.

No Evidence Meghan Directed the Abuse

There is no evidence that Meghan or Prince Harry personally encouraged anyone to target either priest. The reported abuse came from individual social-media accounts, meaning it would be inaccurate to attribute the behaviour to every person who identifies as a Sussex supporter.

Likewise, the term 'Sussex Squad' covers an online fan community rather than a formally organised group, making it difficult to establish how representative the behaviour of the accounts involved actually was.

The £112 Calendar Remains Divisive

Meghan's Advent calendar has already divided opinion because of its price.

The As Ever product costs $148, or approximately £112, and was marketed as a limited-edition luxury Christmas item. Its 24 chocolates feature flavours including strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade.

Supporters may view the calendar as a premium lifestyle product, while critics have questioned whether its contents justify the price.

What began as an argument over chocolate has become another flashpoint in the intensely polarised online debate surrounding Meghan and her supporters.

The reaction towards the priests has also raised a broader question about celebrity fandom: whether criticism of a public figure or commercial product can remain a disagreement over ideas without turning into personal attacks.