The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, marked her return to television with a guest appearance on the July 26 episode of MasterChef Australia. The 44-year-old "Suits" alumna and founder of the As Ever lifestyle brand filmed the segment during a four-day trip to Australia with her husband, Prince Harry, this past April.
Upon entering the set, the Duchess was greeted with applause from the Season 18 judges—Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli—alongside the final four contestants and their previously eliminated peers. She took charge of the mystery box challenge, tasking chefs Vinnie Gibaldi, Petro Papathomas, Casper Kenworthy, and Aaron Kher with selecting a "hero" ingredient to create a dish reflecting a personal memory or family history. The available ingredients included macadamia nuts, lemons, Australian honey, apples, celeriac, quince, and Jerusalem artichokes. During the selection process, the Duchess noted that her children enjoy Brussels sprouts and mentioned that she grows mandarins and strawberries at home.
When it came time for the 30-minute warning, the judges asked the Duchess to deliver the call. Opting for a personal approach, she walked to each station to inform the chefs individually that they had half an hour remaining, stating, "I don't like to yell."
Petro Papathomas ultimately secured immunity and the first spot in the final with his celeriac ice cream dish featuring pickled apples, sauteed celeriac, and a hazelnut crumb. The Duchess praised the dish, expressing disbelief at its quality to the delight of the contestants. Papathomas later told WHO Magazine that the Duchess was kind and spoke eloquently about food.
The filming session included a surprise moment when a production team member handed the Duchess an iPhone during a FaceTime call with Prince Harry. The royal, who is the second son of King Charles, spoke to his wife and judge Sofia Levin, asking if he was interrupting something important while explaining he was in Canberra to meet with veterans. The Duchess introduced Harry to the chefs and expressed her wish that he could have tasted the dishes, which she described as fantastic.
