Meghan’s Simple MasterChef Request Leaves Contestants Smiling

Jul 28, 2026 by apost team

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, chose an informal introduction when she appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia. As judge Poh Ling Yeow welcomed the surprise visitor, she asked, “Do we call you Duchess?” Meghan answered: “Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah.”

The friendly exchange reflected Meghan’s preference for a relaxed atmosphere rather than a formal rejection of her title. She remains the Duchess of Sussex, a title she received when she married Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. The couple stopped using their HRH styles after stepping back as working members of the Royal Family in 2020, according to an official statement from the Royal Family.

Network 10 described Meghan as the Duchess of Sussex in its episode information and said she brought some of her favorite seasonal produce into the MasterChef kitchen. The contestants were asked to transform the ingredients into heartfelt dishes. 

Meghan’s appearance also connected naturally with her work outside television. Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, centers on cooking, entertaining and small touches intended to make everyday occasions feel special. Its product range includes fruit spreads, honey, tea and edible flower sprinkles.

Some reports claimed Meghan’s representatives objected to promotional references to “royalty.” However, no named spokesperson for Meghan or Network 10 publicly confirmed the allegation. A source close to Meghan instead told People that she enjoyed filming the program. The claim should therefore be treated as an unverified account of a production disagreement, rather than an established fact about Meghan’s wishes.

The MasterChef appearance was filmed during Meghan and Prince Harry’s April 2026 visit to Australia, their first trip to the country together since their 2018 royal tour. Speaking to the contestants, Meghan described the return as meaningful for her family.

“We love Australia,” she said. “We had the most sentimental, amazing time. We were here almost eight years ago. We announced we were pregnant with Archie at the time.”

Meghan’s pregnancy was announced as the couple began their 2018 tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Their son, Prince Archie, was born on May 6, 2019.

In the MasterChef kitchen, Meghan encouraged the contestants to cook with emotion as well as technical skill. The ingredients included Brussels sprouts, celeriac, macadamia nuts, Australian honey, citrus fruit and other seasonal produce. She also revealed that Archie and Princess Lilibet enjoy Brussels sprouts, a detail that appeared to surprise some of the cooks.

Meghan described food and cooking as her “love language,” explaining: “I think it’s such a great way to connect. It’s something that can feel sentimental and meaningful, and it’s how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family, and my kids.”

She acknowledged the pressure inside the competition kitchen but encouraged the contestants to keep their sense of humor and enjoy the creative process. Prince Harry added another light moment by appearing briefly through a video call while he was in Canberra.

The episode presented Meghan less as a formal royal figure and more as an enthusiastic home cook, business founder and mother. Her request to be called Meghan immediately set the tone: personal, approachable and focused on food and human connection rather than royal protocol.

apost.com

Are you a fan of Meghan Markle? Do you think her preference to be called Meghan rather than Duchess says something important about who she is now? Let us know in the comments and pass this on to your family, friends, and other royal fans out there!