Meghan Markle's Guest Judge Stint On MasterChef Australia Was Clouded By The Rumor Mill

It would appear that Meghan Markle's detractors are on standby 24/7, ready to tear her down whenever she tries something new. Love her or hate her, there's no denying that everything the Duchess of Sussex does is over-analyzed and criticized. This behavior from those in the anti-Meghan camp was on full display when the former "Suits" star made a guest appearance on "MasterChef Australia" in April 2026. While her appearance unsurprisingly made headlines, so did rumors that there was some serious behind-the-scenes drama. News.com.au claimed Meghan and her team were very upset when judge Poh Ling Yeow introduced her as "royalty." As Yeow excitedly announced, "We've had 'MasterChef' royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this." 

Now, she didn't seem to actually be referring to Meghan as a royal. But a source told the publication that the duchess and her team were "very frustrated" because they made it crystal clear they wanted no mention of royalty whatsoever. According to New Idea, the whole ordeal upset Yeow too. "Poh felt she had been unintentionally drawn into a royal protocol issue she never intended to be part of," a source alleged. While some claimed there was tension during filming, others said everything went great. "There was no tension whatsoever, but it did feel like everyone was working hard to create those picture-perfect TV moments," one source disclosed. 

Another insider confirmed, "Meghan was a great guest." In the aftermath, Yeow revealed something about Meghan many might not know, telling PEDESTRIAN.TV that, while she was shocked by the slew of rumors and falsehoods, the "With Love, Meghan" star barely blinked. "Seriously, the woman has a will of steel, and I just have even more admiration for her," Yeow said approvingly.

Meghan Markle has dropped multiple hints over the years that she misses acting. While starring on "MasterChef Australia" wasn't exactly an acting gig, the Duchess of Sussex was outspoken about how much she enjoyed the experience, with a Sussex camp insider telling People that she "had a great time" on the show in April 2026. So it wasn't much of a surprise when news broke that the duchess was set to return — this time for "Junior MasterChef Australia," where she will serve as a special guest and mentor. "It was an easy yes," Meghan enthused in a statement, per Hola! magazine. 

Her critics, however, are not nearly as excited. The former "Suits" star's return to the cooking show is already mired in controversy, which is only adding to the list of scandals that have plagued Prince Harry and Meghan in 2026. Someone even started a Change.org petition to urge "MasterChef Australia" to drop her altogether, citing the disturbing allegations against the duchess' father, Thomas Markle, as one of the reasons she's not a good fit. At the time of writing, the petition has been put under review following another petition that was started on the same platform, which called for it to be taken down. 

Meanwhile, Express canvassed Melbourne's streets, asking fans what they thought about Meghan returning to "MasterChef." Many were upset that a local chef hadn't been chosen instead. "I think it's a joke. Why do we need her? We have so many Australians that could do that job," one opined. Another pleaded with folks to get off the hate train, saying, "I think they [Meghan and Harry] should be left alone and she has done well for herself. Let them get on with their lives."