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Meghan Markle has made a heartfelt plea as she made her first appearance on MasterChef Australia.
The special episode of the reality television show has finally aired, and it saw the Duchess of Sussex take a special role in the program.
On Sunday, July 26th, the episode aired on Network 10, where Prince Harry’s wife appeared as a guest judge, alongside fellow judge Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen and others.
The estranged member of the British Royal Family was introduced on the show by Poh Ling Yeow, who greeted her before asking, "Do I call you Duchess?"
To which she immediately responded as she urged the contestants, saying, "Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah."
It is important to note that the special episode was recorded when the Duchess of Sussex made a special trip to Australia alongside her husband, Prince Harry.
The royal couple visited Australia in April 2026 to conduct a mix of private, commercial, and philanthropic engagements spanning Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney.
Why Meghan Markle's team ask MasterChef Australia team to not inclde her royal title in the show?
According to the Daily Mail at the time, the Duchess of Sussex’s team "specifically" asked the MasterChef Australia team that all references to her royal status be removed from the programme's marketing.
During her Australian visit, she was not accompanied by her two kids, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
Despite making precautionary moves to avoid the backlash, fans found a reason to criticise the Duchess for being played down during her TV appearance.
As her team asked the reality show not to include any royal title for her, she later made a move, which left fans unimpressed.
The Duchess of Sussex appeared as a guest judge on the 18th season of the cooking show, when contestants were challenged to transform a staple ingredient into a dish "fit for a duchess."
Fans' reaction
Fans did not like the approach, with one X user commenting, "Ok this was the part that pissed me off! Meghan was meant to shout 30 MINUTES!! but instead insisted she would tell them personally."
"Maximum Meghan time was all it was about - she is the most self-absorbed person ever," a second bashed.
A third said, "She doesn't like to follow rules or respect how other people do things; she has to do it her way."
This show aired after Meghan Markle secretly visited the United Kingdom alongside her two children, where she was reunited with King Charles III and Queen Camilla after nearly four years.
