Meghan Markle Serves as Guest Judge on MasterChef Australia, Receives Surprise Video Call from Prince Harry

Meghan Markle served as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, during which Prince Harry made an unexpected video call to check in on his wife mid-episode. The appearance took place during the couple's four-day visit to Australia in April, a trip that blended charitable engagements with private business interests. Harry's cameo generated mixed reactions from viewers, with some calling it touching and others labeling it awkward.

The Guest Judge Appearance

The Duchess of Sussex, aged 44, took a seat at the judges' panel on the July 26 episode of the cooking competition. During the taping, producers handed Meghan her phone as contestants competed in a challenge to prepare dishes "fit for a duchess"—though Meghan herself requested judges simply call her by her first name.

When Prince Harry, 41, called in unexpectedly, she greeted him warmly and introduced the competing chefs by name. Harry, who was in Canberra at the time attending to veterans' engagements, joked about interrupting the proceedings. Meghan described the dishes as fantastic and mentioned a particularly spicy hot sauce, noting she believed the heat level might exceed her husband's tolerance. The exchange lasted several minutes before Harry signed off, telling her to enjoy the tasting and apologizing for the interruption.

Critical Reception and Social Media Response

Reactions to the episode split along predictable lines. Hello Magazine praised Meghan's interaction with the chefs, describing her as "effortlessly elegant" and commending her for providing personal attention to contestants. By contrast, The Sunday Times critic Charlotte Ivers characterized the appearance as "one big gush-fest," arguing it revealed little substantive information about either judge's preferences or the competition's outcome.

Social media users similarly divided. Some viewers described Meghan as "warm, gracious and a delight to watch," while others dismissed Harry's video appearance as "cringe." A handful of posts focused on contestants' admitted crushes on the duchess, with some commenters joking about Harry's decision to call at that moment.

Background and Context

This was not Meghan's first foray into judging cooking content. She previously appeared as a guest judge on Food Network's Chopped Junior in 2016 and showcased her culinary skills in the Netflix series With Love, Meghan. During the MasterChef episode, she discussed her cooking preferences at home, explaining that she prepares dishes to satisfy multiple palates—her British-born husband favors meat, potatoes, and cream-based sauces, while she gravitates toward grilled fish. She noted that her two children, Archie (age 7) and Lilibet, actively participate in meal preparation and possess adventurous appetites.