Meghan's Sussex squad fans 'terrorise' British priests and hound one off social media in row over advent calendar.

 

Meghan's Sussex squad fans 'terrorise' British priests and hound one off social media in row over advent calendar.

The Duchess of Sussex's fans have 'terrorised' a group of British clergymen after they criticised her new advent calendar.

Meghan unveiled the £112 ($148) gourmet chocolate calendar in an online advert at the weekend while wearing a reported £75,000 worth of clothing and jewellery. 

One British vicar who politely criticised the product has been forced to lockdown his X account after being branded a 'demon' and a 'disgrace to the cloth' by supporters – known colloquially as the Sussex Squad.

The row began when Anglican priest and London university chaplain Reverend Daniel French suggested that people could instead buy a £6 Christian advent calendar that is almost 20 times cheaper and contains Fairtrade chocolate.

The alternative he recommended also raises money for a leprosy charity and comes with a 'little booklet on the meaning of Christmas', he told his followers.

Sharing an image of Meghan alongside her As Ever product, Rev French wrote: 'For £5.99 you can pre-order a Christian Advent Calendar with Fairtrade chocolate from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. A donation is made to The Leprosy Mission.'

The calendar also comes with a 24-page Christmas story and activity booklet celebrating the birth of Christ.

But Rev French's post sparked a backlash from members of the Sussex Squad, who branded him 'satan spawn' and 'evil', while claiming he had an 'ugly heart for a so-called Christian'.

His Protestant colleague Father Chris Phillips – whose parish is in Benhilton, south-west London – backed the priest on X, prompting a fresh wave of angry responses, to which he replied that he had 'encountered the Sussex Squad on here', adding: 'Wow.'

His defenders have said he has been 'terrorised' by 'deranged trolls' ever since, forcing him to lockdown his account. 

Trolls claimed he was a 'coward' for doing so. 

After 24 hours of online abuse, including threats and defamatory suggestions about his character, he was forced to lock his account and blocked a number of pro-Meghan supporters.

One wrote: 'Why are you joining in and trolling a woman for selling an advent calendar? You must be a shining example of Christianity to your parishioners.'

Another said: 'Both the Reverend Daniel French and Father Chris Phillips are sorry excuses for Christianity.'

A third added: 'What an evil way of trying to garner Christmas support. God sees you.'

Reacting to his decision to block critics and lock his account, another Meghan fan said: 'These demons in church's clothing can't take half of the hate/bigotry they orchestrate toward Duchess Meghan. Fake Rev. Father Chris Phillips is a p***ya*sb***h. 

'They can dish it but can't take it, what does he do? Blocks and scamper away like the coward he is'.

Rev French did one respond to one critic who said: 'Undoubtedly Rev you’re not her target audience. Nah I’ll stick with chocolate I’m familiar with. Comparte chocolate is it. Duchess Meghan products never fail me yet.'

He replied: 'Enjoy.' 

Both priests have been asked to comment.

Meghan Markle, who went to a Catholic school in LA, was baptised into the Church of England and confirmed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, before she married Prince Harry.

The ceremony in the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in 2018 was kept secret from all but the most senior royals.

However, a row broke out when in their bombshell interview with Oprah in 2021, the Duchess of Sussex, claimed Archbishop Welby secretly married her and Harry in the week before their wedding.

She told Oprah: 'Three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that but we called the Archbishop and we just said, "This thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us".

'So the vows we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury.'

In the wake of the interview many viewers pointed out that the allegation would have been damning for Welby, who would have committed a crime by signing the wedding certificate knowing it was false.

The row forced Welby to issue a statement dismissing the claims.

He said: 'I had a number of private and pastoral meetings with the duke and duchess before the wedding.

'The legal wedding was on the Saturday. I signed the wedding certificate, which is a legal document, and I would have committed a serious criminal offence if I signed it knowing it was false.'

Meghan unveiled As Ever's first advent calendar in collaboration with LA-based gourmet chocolate company Compartes last week.

The £112 box of chocolate treats is her first major product since she, Harry and their two children moved back to the UK. 

The calendar – 'inspired by her Montecito home and garden' – features a festive illustration of the £11million mansion she and Prince Harry called home for six years.

A press release declared that 'every detail was considered with care, including countdown numbers hand-painted in Meghan's own penmanship using edible gold lustre'.

The 'limited-edition' product includes 24 handcrafted chocolates and flavours include strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and orange marmalade, plus what is described as a 'special chocolate finished with Meghan's own flower sprinkles'.

Compartés' 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 available to pre-order in the US on As Ever's website, with delivery from early November.

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.

As Ever explained that the box's design was 'inspired by Meghan's Montecito home and garden', and she worked on it with Compartés creative director Jonathan Grahm.

The product is 'made to be enjoyed through December and treasured long after' and 'brings together the artistry of Compartés and the warmth that defines As Ever'.

Compartés said it was also selling three other cheaper but 'ultra-giftable advent calendars' at $120 (£91) each, including 'Enchanted Castle', 'The Nutcracker' and 'Winter Forest'.

Tags: Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Lilibet

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