Home / VIDEOS / Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle's Throwback Cooking Video Sparks Questions About Her 'MasterChef' Judging Gig — Watch

Meghan Markle's cooking video is fueling fresh criticism, with critics pointing to one kitchen moment in particular to prove their point.

Meghan Markle's guest appearance as a judge on the July 26 episode of MasterChef Australia has sparked mixed reactions from royal fans and critics alike. While supporters praised her latest career move, detractors questioned her credentials to judge a cooking competition. The debate only intensified after an old clip resurfaced showing the Duchess preparing a meal in her kitchen, with critics highlighting her onion-chopping skills as evidence she may not have been the perfect choice for the role.

In the clip reposted from Markle's Instagram stories on X (Formerly Twitter), she is seen chopping onions on a cutting board in her Montecito kitchen. Dressed in a white shirt and donning a blue cap, detractors noted that she was visibly struggling to cut the vegetables. The Duchess of Sussex has often spoken about her love for cooking, with her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, showing her whipping up delicious food in her kitchen and chatting with her celebrity friends. Speaking on MasterChef Australia about why she enjoys cooking, she said, "It's such a great way to connect; it's something that can feel sentimental and meaningful." Watch the video here!

After the video went viral, eagle-eyed royal watchers said the same thing about Markle's onion-chopping skills. A netizen scoffed, "She was given one of the most exclusive televised cooking shows to ever be made, and this is her level of chopping skills." In a similar vein, another sneered, "MasterChef Australia contestants should be enraged she was invited as a guest judge." Meanwhile, a fan remarked, "I know nothing about food prep, but obviously this is amateur slicing and dicing." As the comments poured in, a person quipped, "That onion should sue her."

Unsurprisingly, this isn't the first time the Duchess has come under fire, as not all of her recipes have been well received. Her simple and unconventional one-pan pasta recipe, for instance, was mercilessly trolled by viewers. Critics have questioned her cooking abilities and called the dish 'a punishment.' Weighing in on the same, royal expert Hugo Vickers earlier told The Sun, "We have seen them before, or in some cases they are saying, you know, you should not put pasta on the top of the tomatoes and then put boiling water on the top. That would not be done in Italy. That is a disaster."

As for her MasterChef Australia appearance, as reported by She Knows, in a press release, Markle spoke about her reason to appear on the show, saying, "What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes." She continued, "It's such a great show. 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."