Meghan Markle secretly filmed scenes for MasterChef Australia during her tour Down Under, sending fans wild.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, will be appearing as a guest judge on the Network 10 show, and chatter has been rife about her rare TV gig.
In particular, rumours have been swirling about how much she was paid for the appearance, and finally, 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.
MasterChef is believed to have approached Meghan to appear in a one-off episode, joining the likes of Robert Irwin, Jimmy Barnes and Rick Stein on the 2026 line-up.
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 recently 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 has 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.
When will Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Australia episode air?
Meghan will mentor and guide Australia’s top home cooks on the episode, expected to air on the show’s 18th series.
She is joining the line-up of famous guest judges featuring on this series, including the likes of Rick Stein, Robert Irwin and Curtis Stone.
It is not known exactly when her episode will air, but the 2026 series launched on April 19, so hopefully, fans won’t have long to wait.
Meghan filmed her episode during her four-day trip to Australia this week with her husband, Prince Harry, their first in eight years.
After a day of joint royal engagements, Harry headed off on a string of solo visits, including to Western Bulldogs training and to deliver an Invictus speech.
Presumably, Meghan headed off to the Network 10 studios to film her under-wraps appearance on MasterChef Australia during this time.
Meghan’s TV appearance comes on the back of her launching her own cooking and lifestyle Netflix show, titled With Love, Meghan.
A passionate cook, she has also launched her own products through her As Ever brand, including various jams, honeys and wines.
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.
