Meghan Markle’s upcoming appearance as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia is set to air later this month, with contestants tasked with preparing a dish worthy of a Duchess.
The former actress recorded the segment during her visit to Australia with Prince Harry three months ago, as the couple carried out a high-profile tour of the country.
Meghan has said her affection for both food and Australia inspired her decision to take part as a guest judge on one of the nation’s most-watched television programs.
The Duchess, 44, who is known for her interest in cooking and recently launched the lifestyle brand As Ever, spent a day filming at the MasterChef Australia set in Melbourne while Harry continued with engagements on his own.
Her role on the show was confirmed later that day when Channel Ten released a promotional clip featuring Meghan walking onto the MasterChef set in an elegant black ensemble before greeting Poh Ling Yeow and fellow judges Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin.
It has now been confirmed that the episode will air on Sunday, July 26, at 7pm on Channel 10. According to Mediaweek, Meghan will challenge the cooks to “create a dish fit for a Duchess.”
The Duchess of Sussex, who was reportedly “very frustrated” when fellow cast members referred to her as “royalty” during filming, is expected to set a challenge built around seasonal produce, including Brussels sprouts, celeriac and Australia’s well-known macadamia nuts.
Contestants also had access to quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries, as well as Australian honey to add sweetness to their creations — rather than honey from Meghan’s own As Ever label.
‘What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes,’ Meghan said in a press release announcing the broadcast date.
The Duchess of Sussex made a shock appearance on MasterChef Australia and her episode will be broadcast later this month, She is pictured with fellow judges Poh Ling Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin
‘It’s such a great show. I’m just really honoured that I was asked to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.’
She told the contestants: ‘I’d love it if there’s a connection that you can find when, as you’re cooking something, what is the story behind it?… What is something from your family or from a memory… something sentimental that we can also taste as we taste your dish?’
‘These are all things that, for me, feel really nostalgic,’ she added.
Meghan’s sensitivities over claims that her Australian tour with Harry was cashing in on their royal links led to a row over her MasterChef appearance, it was claimed at the time.
The Duchess of Sussex was reportedly ‘very frustrated’ with producers when she was described as ‘royalty’ in the promo for Australia’s most popular reality TV show.
Meghan and her team had ‘specifically’ made clear they did not want the word ‘royal’ used, a source said.
‘We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this,’ fellow judge Poh said.
But a report in Australia claimed Meghan was unhappy about being described as royalty, despite the fact that, through her marriage to Harry, the term is technically correct.
Foodie Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, serves frittata at McAuley Community Services for Women, a women’s homeless and family violence shelter, on April 14 in Melbourne
Meghan Markle was reportedly left disappointed after the Irwin family opted not to meet her and Prince Harry during their current Australian tour (pictured together at Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday)
The Sussexes had been under fire after they see-sawed between royal-style charity events and money-spinning commercial appearances and speaking engagements.
They were accused of using Australia as a personal ‘ATM’ to ‘fund that 16-bedroom house they have in Montecito’ by one of the country’s top business leaders.
There was also a row over whether Australian taxpayers should pick up the bill for any police security on the tour given the couple’s own spokesman repeatedly said their four-day visit was ‘private’ – not a royal visit.
So when Meghan was called ‘royalty’ by MasterChef’s own stars, she and her team were reportedly frustrated when it was said on camera.
‘They were outside the doors when it was filmed, so didn’t know what had been said’, a source explained to news.com.au.
The Australia tour led to a series of rows.
Guests paid thousands to attend Meghan Markle’s Her Best Life retreat in Sydney where they were treated to Champagne, selfies with the duchess and plush hotel rooms.
But the budget gift bags they left with raised a few eyebrows.
Tickets for the retreat cost $2,699 for standard entry or up to $3,199 for VIP premium packages which offered more direct access to Meghan.
But the total value of the gift bag was just under $200.
Meghan spent just two hours with host Gemma O’Neill and female fans who paid to ask her questions and pose for pictures at a money-spinning ‘ultimate girls’ weekend where she bemoaned her ‘very hard’ life
Meghan spent just two hours with female fans who paid to ask her questions and pose for pictures at a money-spinning ‘ultimate girls’ weekend where she bemoaned her ‘very hard’ life.
After 120 minutes at the gala, Meghan departed the InterContinental Coogee with her husband Prince Harry shortly after 7pm, in the back of a luxury Range Rover.
Excited paying guests had started turning up at the five-star beachside hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs from 3pm due to the strict security arrangements, with the official event kicking off at 5pm.
On stage at the gala dinner, where paying guests ate kingfish, beef tenderloin and coconut crumble, Meghan bemoaned her ‘very hard’ life in the public eye, claiming she has been ‘attacked’ ever since marrying Prince Harry.
