Meghan's love letter to California: Duchess unveils first ever advent calendar featuring 'her Montecito garden' and beloved chickens after moving back to the UK

Meghan Markle has unveiled her first advent calendar inspired by her 'Montecito garden' after moving back to the UK with Prince Harry. The new launch reads like a love letter to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's life in the US after they quit the Royal Family in 2020 - from the artwork to the flavours inspired by 'California's fresh bounty'The box features a festive illustration of the $14 million mansion the Duke and Duchess of Sussex called home for six years before returning to Britain last month with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The design also features the two 'profoundly connected' palm trees on the sprawling property that convinced Harry and Meghan they were destined to buy the house, along with the Duchess's flock of chickens.The advent calendar marks Meghan's second collaboration with renowned chocolatier Jonathan Grahm of LA-based Compartes.Ahead of pre-orders opening today, the Duchess shared a video of the pair zooming around an unidentified estate on a golf cart on her Instagram Stories. Meghan, who was behind the wheel, could be heard saying 'Hang on!' as Jonathan added 'Stay tuned!' as they enjoyed a laugh together. The clip was set to Michael Buble's hit Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and captioned 'Christmas planning in June'. The Duchess also included early prints of the box's artwork and a clip of their beloved black Labrador Pula carrying an As Ever plushie toy in her mouth while Meghan lovingly stroked her head. Meghan Markle has unveiled her first advent calendar inspired by her 'Montecito garden' after moving back to the UK with Prince Harry The box features a festive illustration of the $14 million mansion the Duke and Duchess of Sussex called home for six yearsThe advent calendar is the second collaboration between Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever and renowned chocolatier Jonathan Grahm of LA-based Compartes. They previously rolled out $12 bars flavoured with Meghan's 'signature ingredients' to 'spark a little sweet nostalgia'. The 24 chocolates for each day leading up to Christmas also 'draw from As Ever favourites' such as the Duchess's strawberry and blackberry spreads, marmalade and 'Meghan's own flower sprinkles'. The gold countdown numbers are printed in Meghan's handwriting as the Duchess frequently shows off her penmanship on As Ever products. The 'keepsake' calendar costs nearly $150 and is 'made to be...treasured long after' Christmas. The release noted the box is the 'latest chapter' in Compartes' partnership with Meghan and hinted at other products in the pipeline. Meghan has continued promoting As Ever, which was launched last February, on Instagram since returning to the UK in August with their children Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet.Ahead of launching the advent calendar, which can be preordered starting today, the Duchess rounded up her best hosting tips in a post on the brand's Instagram - but the 'notes' left fans baffled.Meghan recommended having 'as much [food] prepped as possible' before guests arrived in 'obvious' advice that left social media users less than impressed. 'Today's revelation: prepare things before your guests arrive. Next week: put food on plates,' one comment on X read. Other sardonic responses included 'Next week will be "Turn lights on before event!"', 'Make sure to open your door as the guests arrive' and 'Put on apron beforehand as if meal was cooked by you.' The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California.Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather King Charles, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile. The countdown numbers are hand-painted by Meghan in edible gold luster. The 'keepsake' calendar costs nearly $150 and is 'made to be...treasured long after' ChristmasThey are thought to have traded their Montecito home for a private, non-royal residence in the Cotswolds. Since Megxit, they have pursued ventures such as Harry's 2023 memoir Spare, in which he was critical of his brother William, father King Charles and stepmother Camilla.The Sussexes also took part in a 2023 CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, opening up on the tensions within the Royal Family and making allegations of racism.Meghan's streaming Netflix series featured her cookery efforts and As Ever, which sells $12 (£8.80) fruit spread jars, including Raspberry & Lavender Honey Yoghurt Parfait and Blackberry Spread.In the run-up to their return, Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.Within two weeks of arriving, there was reported pushback from Harry and Meghan after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were 'private citizens' and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.The duke and duchess were said to be 'surprised' by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term 'public figures' instead.In addition to running her lifestyle brand, Meghan is looking to step up her charity work in the UK amid reports she will 'pick up with a lot of people'. Plans are understood to include Smart Works, a charity supporting unemployed, vulnerable women looking for jobs.She held four patronages after she wed Harry in 2018, but Smart Works was the only one she continued to support after she stopped working as a royal.The Sunday Times earlier this month quoted a source as saying: 'She is thinking about plans for how she can get more involved and support the causes she was supporting and was passionate about again, and new causes too.'Meghan's first eight-episode Netflix series – called With Love, Meghan – was released on the streaming giant's services in February, following a series of teaser previews she had shared with her 2.2 million Instagram followers.In trailers, Meghan was seen cooking, baking, cocktail making, flower arranging and party planning using its kitchen's £15,000 cooker, £600 pans, £60 chopping boards and hosting friends across the property's stunning rooms, garden and orchards.Meghan announced on February 18 the renaming of her venture As Ever from previous title, American Riviera Orchard, which she said had limited her to locally produced goods.