Meghan Markle Goes by Duchess at 'MasterChef Australia' — and It Lands Exactly as Expected
Meghan Markle's 'Duchess' title gets plenty of airtime on 'MasterChef Australia,' and royal watchers aren't thrilled.
Meghan Markle has plenty of reasons to celebrate this month. Following her private reunion with King Charles in the UK alongside her children, her guest appearance on MasterChef Australia is set to air on July 26. Filmed during her April visit Down Under with Prince Harry, the Season 18 episode challenges contestants to "create a dish fit for a Duchess." However, the prominent use of her "Duchess" title in the trailers and promotional materials has sparked backlash from some royal watchers, with critics even threatening to boycott the episode.
In a photo posted on Channel 10 Australia's Instagram, Markle is introduced as 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.' It was captioned, "The countdown is on! 🗓️ Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joins the #MasterChefAU kitchen as a guest judge, bringing her love of food, entertaining, and seasonal produce to one of the competition's most memorable challenges." It further mentioned that the episode would air on Sunday, 26 July, at 7 pm. As reported by Sky News, in a press release, Channel 10 described her as an "entrepreneur, humanitarian, and passionate home cook," spotlighting her lifestyle brand As Ever and Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Watch the video here!
After the promotional material went viral, royal fans took issue with the usage of her title, feeling she was not at liberty to use it after stepping down as a senior royal six years ago. Taking to the comment section on Instagram, a netizen scoffed, "She's no longer the Duchess of Sussex. She relinquished the title." In a similar vein, another remarked, "Megan, not Duchess, won't be watching." Meanwhile, one opined, "For someone who criticized the royal family and stepped away from their duties, they somehow have no problem using the titles and calling their kids Prince and Princess." As the comments poured in, another sneered, "Why? She's not a chef??? Not interested!"
Shortly after MasterChef Australia announced her appearance, Markle expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. Her press release read, "What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia... I'm just really honored that I was asked to be able to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals." She also encouraged the contestants, asking, "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?"
That being said, her recent guest appearance perfectly aligns with her passions; she previously hosted her own Netflix lifestyle and cooking series, With Love, Meghan. Additionally, she stepped into the culinary and lifestyle space with her brand As Ever, which produces jams, baking mixes, and herbal teas, while regularly sharing her favorite kitchen tips through newsletters. This isn't her first time on a panel, either—she also appeared as a guest judge on Chopped Junior back in 2016.
