The Duchess of Sussex is back in the news just days after reuniting with the Windsors in England. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet gathered with King Charles and Camilla at Highgrove House, the British monarch’s private residence in Gloucestershire. It was the first time that grandparents and grandchildren met in person in the last four years.
Now, Meghan Markle is in the spotlight again for her unexpected return to television. The wife of Prince Harry has been confirmed as a judge on the Australian edition of MasterChef which will air at the end of this month. In this episode, the contestants on the culinary talent show will face the challenge of creating “a dish worthy of a duchess.”
The Suits star recorded the show during her controversial visit to Australia three months ago. In a preview clip, Meghan Markle asserts that her passion for good food and her love for Australia were the two reasons she decided to participate as a guest on the country’s most-watched television program.
The Duchess of Sussex, a true culinary enthusiast and founder of the lifestyle brand As Ever, left Harry alone while she spent a day filming a segment on the MasterChef Australia set in Melbourne for the show’s latest season. In the episode to be aired on July 26, the American will pose a challenge to the chefs in which they must use seasonal ingredients such as Brussels sprouts or macadamia nuts.
Meghan Markle Feels Very Frustrated
“It’s a fantastic show. I feel very honored to have been invited to be here with you and to be able to evaluate some of these dishes,” Meghan Markle says in the program preview. And she also asks the chefs to find “a connection when you cook,” and to ask themselves what is the story behind the dish.
Meghan Markle, junto a los presentadores de MasterChef Australia.
The network that airs MasterChef Australia described Meghan Markle in a statement as “an entrepreneur, humanitarian, and passionate cook who poses a challenge to our cooks to create dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients and the personal stories behind them.” They also noted that “her passion for food has been reflected in her recent projects,” including her Netflix program –With Love, Meghan– which was canceled after two seasons.
What seems not to have sat well with Meghan Markle, after allegations that her tour of Australia with Prince Harry was taking advantage of her Windsor ties, was the fact that she was described on the show as “a member of the royal family.” According to several Australian outlets citing sources close to her, the Duchess of Sussex and her team had made it “very clear” that they did not want the word “royal” used, which has led the former actress to feel “very frustrated.”
Fans Want to Boycott the Show
References to her inaccurate status as a member of the royal family have not been the only disappointment for Meghan Markle in her experience as a juror on MasterChef Australia. In the comments section of Network 10’s Instagram post, numerous critics call to boycott the episode. “I definitely won’t watch it,” wrote one user. “I love MasterChef, but I won’t watch it if she appears,” added another. And a third person stated with anger that they would not watch the show because Meghan Markle “is a repugnant person and also she is not a chef“.
One more person mocked the television network for referring to Meghan Markle as “duchess,” despite her stepping back from royal duties in 2020. However, Kate Middleton’s sister-in-law remains technically the Duchess of Sussex, a title she received from the late Elizabeth II as a gift for her royal wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. When the couple moved to the United States in 2020, the Queen allowed them to keep their Sussex titles, but prohibited them from using the name Sussex Royal for their projects outside the Royal Family.
