After months of anticipation, Channel 10 has finally confirmed when Meghan Markle is going to appear as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia.
The Duchess of Sussex secretly filmed scenes for MasterChef during her tour Down Under in April, which sent royal and TV fans alike into a frenzy.
Not only do we know when she will be on our screens, we also know what challenge she has for this year’s contestants.
Scroll to find out more below.
When is Meghan Markle appearing on MasterChef Australia?
Meghan will be a guest judge on the hit cooking show on Sunday, July 26.
So far, there has been a line-up of star-studded judges, including Robert Irwin and Jimmy Barnes.
According to Channel 10, Meghan will present the contestants with her favourite seasonal ingredients – carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, local Australian honey, macadamia nuts, quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries.
The contestants will be tasked with celebrating one of these ingredients, and making the dish “fit for a Duchess”.
A press release says that Meghan chose the selection of ingredients because they’re “really nostalgic”.
“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?… What is something from your family or from a memory…something sentimental that we can also taste as we taste your dish,” she shared.
Was Meghan Markle paid to appear on MasterChef Asutralia?
Ever since she was announced as a guest judge, rumours have been swirling about how much she was paid for the appearance.
Now, the record has been set straight.
New Idea understands that Meghan wasn’t paid to appear on the cooking competition, much like the other celebrity judges, quashing rumours of a “six-figure” fee.
Meghan has also confirmed that she was approached to appear on the show.
“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 said in the Network 10 release.
“It’s such a great show. I’m just really honoured that I was asked to be able to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.”
Our insiders have also claimed that none of Meghan’s As Ever products were used during the episode, amid speculation that the gig was in aid of her launching her lifestyle brand Down Under.
While fans might wonder why she’d choose to appear for free, one PR expert has insisted that she could be marking a return to the world of “mainstream celebrity”.
“It allows her to trial this next phase slightly outside of the intense scrutiny she faces in the US and UK,” expert Kayley Cornelius told OLBG.
What did Poh Ling Yeow say about Meghan Markle?
Judge Poh Ling Yeow revealed what it was really like to film with Meghan, saying her background as an actress served her well on set.
“She was so delightful, like nothing but praise for the time that we spent with her,” she told KIIS 106.5.
“Very easy-going, good sense of humour, a consummate professional.”
“I mean, she’s an actor, right? So she just slid right into that judging role seamlessly,” she added.
Meghan will appear as a guest judge alongside regulars Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli, while Andy Allen is absent after welcoming his baby boy.
“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this,” Poh teased in a trailer shared to Instagram by Network 10 on April 15.
“All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia... the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”
However, one source told News.com.au that this introduction rubbed Meghan and her team the wrong way.
The source alleged that MasterChef was told “specifically” to avoid the word “royal”.
“They were outside the doors when it was filmed, so didn’t know what had been said,” they claimed, adding that the Duchess of Sussex and her team only learned of it once it went to air.
Is Meghan Markle launching As Ever in Australia?
Her MasterChef stint raised further speculation that she could be preparing to launch As Ever in Australia.
It is currently only available in the US and online, but her TV appearance could be a telling sign that she is gearing up to launch her brand Down Under.
Meghan previously sparked speculation of a major expansion when she registered 12 trademarks in Australia for As Ever in September 2024.
According to Hello!, Meghan’s application was approved by the Australian Government’s intellectual property office in June 2025.
The filing was believed to cover items including skincare, candles, gardening, clothing, jewellery, homeware and gardening products.
