MasterChef Judge Reveals What Meghan Markle Was Really Like on Set — and What Surprised Her the Most
The judge put all the rumors to rest about Meghan Markle's behavior on set.
Meghan Markle's surprise MasterChef Australia appearance was one of the most talked-about moments from her Australian tour—and not entirely for the right reasons. The word 'royal' was used in the promo, against the Duchess's specific wishes, and the fallout was swift. Now, one of the judges who was actually there has weighed in on what really happened on set.
The appearance had been kept under wraps until a promo landed on Ten's social media channels just hours after filming wrapped. In it, judge Poh Ling Yeow was heard announcing: "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this — all the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle." The clip went public before Markle or her team had any idea what had been said. According to an insider, they were standing outside the doors during filming and only heard the wording when the rest of the world did. They were, the source said, 'very frustrated' — having specifically made clear beforehand that the word 'royal' was not to be used, owing to all the conjecture about the Sussexes misusing the royal tag during their tour.
However, Poh Ling Yeow, the MasterChef judge, speaking on KIIS 106.5, put all the rumors to rest. "There's so much public conjecture about this," she said. "She was so delightful, like nothing but praise for the time that we spent with her."
Her description of the Duchess was warm, specific, and notably unbothered. "Very easy-going, good sense of humor, a consummate professional," she said. What also came through was that Markle’s years in front of the camera were evident the moment she walked on set. Sliding into an unfamiliar role in an unfamiliar environment, on a working television production, mid-tour — it is not a small ask. But according to Yeow, it barely registered as a challenge. "She's an actor, right? So she just slid right into that judging role seamlessly," she said.
The guest appearance is believed to be tied to Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever, which sells jams, honey, flower sprinkles, shortbread mixes, and wine. Australia is widely expected to be the brand's first international market, and the MasterChef slot — with its vast domestic audience — would be a logical launchpad.
The appearance may amount to nothing more than a one-off television moment. Celebrity PR specialist Kayley Cornelius suggested Markle is using the MasterChef slot to gauge something bigger. "There's a strong sense that she may be looking to return to the world of mainstream celebrity culture as well as TV," Cornelius said, describing the guest spot as Meghan "testing the waters" ahead of a possible "full-scale comeback." If that read is correct, Australia may have just been the opening act.
"By featuring on one of Australia's biggest TV shows, it will truly be a make-or-break moment for her Aussie career and determine whether she has something scalable across the pond," Cornelius added.
