Meghan Markle made a guest appearance on MasterChef Australia, where she instructed co-host Poh Ling Yeow to address her as "Meghan" rather than "Duchess." The Duchess of Sussex filmed the segment during her tour to Australia three months prior to its airing on Sunday evening.
Arriving on set, Markle was introduced by Yeow, who noted her excitement to present the mystery guest judge filling in for Andy Allen, who was on paternity leave. Upon greeting, Yeow asked, "Do I call you Duchess?" to which Markle responded, "Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah."
Markle expressed her affection for Australia, describing the trip as a "full circle" moment. She recalled announcing her pregnancy with Prince Archie in the country approximately eight years earlier. "We were here almost eight years ago. We announced we were pregnant with Archie at the time. So, it's full circle, here we are, but thrilled to be here with all of you and taste some really good food," she stated.
For her guest spot, contestants were tasked with creating a "dish fit for a Duchess" using ingredients Markle selected from the pantry, including honey, macadamia nuts, citrus, edible flowers, and celeriac. Markle also shared that her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, enjoy eating Brussels sprouts, a detail that impressed Yeow.
Markle advised the contestants to "keep a sense of humour" and "cook from the heart," acknowledging the pressure of the kitchen. She explained her cooking philosophy: "I don't like to cook that way, I like to cook in a really relaxed fashion." She added that "food and cooking are how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family and my kids." Markle encouraged contestants to incorporate personal stories and sentimental connections into their dishes.
The Duchess of Sussex's appearance on the show reportedly followed sensitivities surrounding her Australian tour, with claims that she and her team had specifically requested that the term "royal" not be used in promotional materials. Despite this, fellow judge Poh Ling Yeow was quoted as saying, "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this."
Markle's Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," recently received a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding lifestyle programming. The series, which premiered in March 2025 alongside her lifestyle brand As Ever, included a second season and a Christmas special. Despite some criticism and reportedly failing to break into Netflix's top 1,000 most-watched programs, the show was nominated. The series was axed in January 2026.