Meghan Markle’s ‘MasterChef Australia’ Cameo Has a Surprising Royal Link You Didn’t Know
While Meghan Markle's cameo was celebrated, another royal has already appeared on the same hit cooking show seven years ago.
Meghan Markle marked her first return to Australia in seven years, doing what she does best—blending business and philanthropy with a touch of fun. On April 15, royal fans received exciting news as it was revealed that she would make a special appearance for the 18th season of MasterChef Australia. While the unexpected announcement grabbed headlines, many may not realize it carries a surprising royal link, as King Charles also appeared on the hit cooking show during a July 2018 episode.
In a teaser shared on MasterChef Australia's Instagram, the show and Network 10 hinted at a 'SUPER special' person arriving as a guest judge in the kitchen, alongside a photo of Markle with fellow judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow, and Sofia Levin. In the clip, Poh seemed to hint at Charles's previous appearance on the show, saying, "We've had royalty in the MasterChef kitchen before, but no one like this! All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia - the Duchess of Sussex!" The episode is set to premiere on April 19 at 7 pm.
After Reddit thread @r/RoyaltyTea caught wind of Markle's cameo, the comments were filled with discussions about Charles's appearance on Season 10. In light of the same, a Reddit user said, "I remember that season! I did not remember Charles on the show, though, haha." Another remarked, "He[Charles] spat out the food immediately after trying it." Meanwhile, a royal watcher observed, "William and Camilla have also made speeches on sticky come dancing, I believe." Then-Prince Charles had appeared in the episode, Royal Reception Catering Team Challenge, where contestants were asked to prepare canapés for a royal reception attended by him and Queen Camilla.
Unlike Markle, who is a guest judge, the King's cameo was for a special themed challenge rather than a standard judging appearance. In the episode, contestants were tasked to prepare hundreds of canapés using native Australian ingredients to cater to a reception of 150 guests. Charles was filmed meeting several contestants and judges, engaging warmly, and showing interest in local produce and sustainability. While he sampled dishes symbolically, he notably did not eat any of them on camera. The challenge ultimately saw the Red Team win for their menu, while the losing teams were sent to elimination.
As for the Duchess's cameo, the MasterChef teaser introduced Markle as 'royalty' and the 'Duchess of Sussex.' Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020, retaining her Duchess title while giving up the 'His/Her Royal Highness.' Nevertheless, this project aligns with her passions, as she also hosts her own Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan. On the side, she entered the food and lifestyle domain with her brand As Ever, producing jams, cookie mixes, and herbal teas, and regularly shares some of her favorite cooking tips through newsletters. Interestingly, she has also appeared as a guest judge on the cooking show Chopped Junior in 2016.
