The Duke of Sussex made a surprise appearance on MasterChef Australia, calling his wife, Meghan, during her guest stint as a judge on the show. Producers handed the phone to the Duchess of Sussex, who greeted him by saying “hi, my love,” and later remarked to those present that her husband is “a charmer.” When the call came through, Meghan informed the contestants, “My husband’s here,” which led to cheers and surprised reactions from the participants and the audience.
Prince Harry expressed his regret for the interruption, told her to enjoy the experience, and viewed some of the dishes before signing off.
The episode, which was filmed in Melbourne during the couple's four-day visit to Australia in April, featured contestants tasked with transforming a staple ingredient into a dish described as being “fit for a duchess.” Meghan encouraged the chefs to ignore her title, asking them to “call me Meghan,” and urged them to prepare meals that held personal meaning, asking, “What’s the story behind it?”
During the program, Meghan discussed her home cooking preferences, noting the difficulty of managing multiple palates. She explained that while she enjoys grilled fish, her British-born husband prefers “meat, potatoes and cream sauce.” She also mentioned that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are “great eaters” who often assist with meal preparations, adding, “We’re really lucky on that front.”
The episode drew a polarized response. Hello Magazine praised the appearance, stating she “made MasterChef Australia her own” and highlighted how she gave personal time to the contestants. Conversely, writing for The Sunday Times, Charlotte Ivers was less impressed, arguing the appearance provided little insight into her preferences or the competition itself, while the publication described the episode as “one big gush-fest.” Social media reactions were similarly divided, with some viewers finding her “warm, gracious and a delight to watch,” while others labeled the cameo “cringe.”
The Duchess of Sussex’s interest in cooking has been previously documented, and her own television series has earned a nomination for an Outstanding Lifestyle Program at the Daytime Emmy Awards. This appearance occurred while the couple, who are no longer working royals, were visiting Australia in a private capacity to balance charitable engagements with other events.
More recently, the family visited the UK, where they held a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. On Thursday, Meghan shared a collection of photos on Instagram documenting the family’s summer holiday.
"I wish you could try these, these dishes are fantastic," she told him, before showing him the food. He signed off by telling her to go and enjoy, adding: "Very sorry to disturb you."
