Charity Advent Calendar Sales Surge After Clash Over Meghan Markle

Reverend French, a university chaplain in London, sparked the controversy by urging consumers to eschew luxury branding in favor of the charity’s offering. His post on X met immediate hostility from supporters of the Duchess of Sussex, escalating into a wider online dispute that saw other clergy members drawn into the fray. Despite the intense criticism directed toward the priest, the attention shifted public focus toward the organization’s mission.

Amanda Norman, Chief Executive of The Leprosy Mission Shop, credited the priest for highlighting the needs of those affected by the disease during a season often dominated by celebrity culture. Beyond the spike in revenue, the charity reported receiving messages of support from across Britain and the United States. This surge in interest underscores a broader public appetite for charitable giving, providing a tangible boost to the mission’s efforts at a time when the Duchess’s own holiday collection faced scrutiny for its similarities to existing royal merchandise and comparisons to the late Princess Diana.