Meghan Markle’s shock reality TV cameo has split Australia down the middle, with some fans celebrating while others slam the move.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex insists her Australian fans call her ‘Meg’
In an informal move, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is urging her Australian fans to “call me Meg”.
During her whirlwind Australian tour this week, Meghan Markle branched off from husband Prince Harry to film a secret segment in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
The Duchess of Sussex is due to appear as a guest judge in the upcoming series, launching on Sunday, with a preview clip shared overnight.
In the teaser footage shared by 10 News on Instagram, judge Poh Ling Yeow struggled to contain her excitement as she announced Meghan’s appearance to this year’s contestants.
“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this,” she begins. “All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia … The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”
Contestants are heard clapping from the level above as passionate foodie Meghan struts onto the set beaming and waving to all. The excitement was real. Except over on social media, Meghan’s guest appearance left some less than impressed.
“Seriously Masterchef? U can’t find anyone else to be a judge?” one person wrote under the social media post.
“Another reason not to watch MasterChef,” another added.
Another disgruntled fan wrote: “Please don’t lower the standard of your show by inviting guests who have no culinary background or qualifications to be on it! Please don’t make the audience lose respect for Masterchef Australia,” while another agreed and took the opportunity to poke fun at Meghan’s “cooking” on her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.
“I would rather an actual chef… not this wannabe who ‘elevates’ the kitchen by putting pretzels from a store brought bag into a see through bag.”
Meghan Markle will appear in the new series of MasterChef Australia. Picture: Channel 10
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Meanwhile, many remain confused about Meghan’s title and why she is still considered royalty, given that she and Harry stepped down as senior royals in 2020.
“Why is she still being addressed as Duchess?” one person questioned.
“She’s not royal,” another insisted.
In among the Negative Nancy’s, there were a heap of fans who were thrilled with the news if Meghan being in the new series – even if Prince Harry won’t be by her side.
Meghan is a passionate cook – and showed off a few skills during her visit to McAuley Community Services for Women, a women’s homeless and family violence shelter in Footscray. Picture: Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP
“I love that Meaghan is on MC Australia! Look forward to it. And, if I get shot down for saying that, it says more about you than me,” one fan defended.
“Yes!!! Looking forward to this … passionate foodie and health and wellness / intentional living advocate, think she’ll bring such an extra dimension to the table, as well as her warmth & care,” another added.
And another couldn’t help but compare Meghan to Harry’s late mother Princess Diana – which has been on show in Melbourne all week during their Aussie tour.
“She’s so beautiful and such a kind soul. Just like Diana. All class.”
Prince Harry and Meghan kicked off their Aussie tour with a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. Picture: Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP
Shortly after news.com.au broke the news of her secret gig, Meghan’s publicist confirmed she had indeed appeared as a guest judge.
“As part of her first Australian visit since 2018, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, featured as a guest judge on the country’s most beloved cooking show,” the statement read.
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“Meghan mentored and guided our nation’s top home cooks alongside MasterChef Australia judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.”
Season 18 of the reality cooking series will also see the likes of stars including Robert Irwin and Jimmy Barnes make their MasterChef debut.
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