Meghan Markle Set to Appear as Guest Judge on MasterChef Australia Season 18
The Duchess of Sussex is making a surprise television appearance during her Australian tour, stepping into the MasterChef kitchen as a guest judge.
Meghan Markle Joins MasterChef Australia as Guest Judge
The Duchess of Sussex is adding a television appearance to her already packed Australian itinerary, with Network Ten confirming that Meghan will feature as a guest judge on the upcoming 18th season of MasterChef Australia. The episode was filmed in Melbourne on Wednesday, and the new season is scheduled to premiere on April 19.
A Royal Tour Down Under
Meghan and Prince Harry are currently in the midst of a four-day private visit to Australia — their first return to the country since their whirlwind 2018 tour, which took place just months after their wedding. The couple, who stepped back from their roles as working royals, are combining visits to meaningful charitable organizations with a series of commercial engagements throughout the trip.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry immersed himself in Australian culture by joining players from an Australian Rules football team for a hands-on training session. He also paid his respects at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The pair have additional engagements planned in Melbourne on Thursday before heading to Sydney.
Earlier in the week, the duo visited the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, where they were warmly received by hundreds of well-wishers gathered in the foyer. Meghan also made a compassionate stop at a local women's refuge, personally serving plates of frittata to residents at the centre.
High-Profile Events and Charitable Commitments
Later this week, Prince Harry is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne. Tickets to the event are priced between A$1,000 (approximately $713 USD / £526) and A$2,400 (approximately $1,718 USD / £1,266), with all proceeds benefiting the mental health charity Lifeline. The BBC has reached out to event organizers to confirm whether the Duke is receiving a personal appearance fee.
On Saturday, Meghan will take center stage at an exclusive women-only weekend retreat in Sydney. Attendees are paying up to A$3,199 (approximately $2,290 USD / £1,688) for the experience, with premium VIP packages including the opportunity to take a group photograph with the Duchess. The event, which has not yet sold out, continues to offer a limited number of available rooms. Details regarding Meghan's compensation for her participation have not been disclosed.
Lifestyle Brand Expansion Eyes Australian Market
Meghan's MasterChef appearance is a natural extension of her growing presence in the food and lifestyle space. Her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, has seen her share cooking techniques and hosting inspiration with friends and celebrity guests, building a dedicated audience around her personal brand.
There is also growing speculation that Australia could become a key market for Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, which was prominently featured throughout her Netflix series. Records from an Australian government intellectual property database reveal that the company filed trademarks across 12 different product categories in the country last year, signaling a potentially significant commercial push into the Australian market.
