Meghan Markle received a heartwarming surprise during her guest judge appearance on ‘MasterChef Australia’ when Prince Harry called her unexpectedly on camera. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, appeared on the July 26 episode of the reality competition series, marking a significant moment in her culinary media journey and demonstrating the couple’s ability to surprise fans with intimate glimpses of their relationship even during professional commitments.According to People, the cameo was initially teased after it was filmed during Meghan and Harry’s visit to Australia in April. During the episode, as the judges were reviewing a contestant’s dish, Meghan received the surprise video call from her husband, shocking the contestants and fellow judges in the room. “Hi, my love! My husband’s here,” Meghan said, as the camera panned to her colleagues waving at Prince Harry, 41.
Prince Harry’s surprise video call offered viewers a glimpse into the couple’s relationship during Meghan Markle’s guest judge appearance on ‘MasterChef Australia’.Image credit (Instagram)
Prince Harry jokes with Meghan Markle during surprise MasterChef Australia video call
Prince Harry opened the call with characteristic humour, asking, “What’s going on? Have I interrupted something important?” Meghan explained the situation to her husband, providing context about the judging process. “Well, we are actually in the middle of tasting all the dishes. We have four incredible cooks here. It’s amazing, they’re so talented. We wish you were here,” Meghan replied, then turning to inform the judges, “He’s in Canberra right now with the veterans.”
Prince Harry joked, “Have I interrupted something important?” as he called Meghan Markle during her guest appearance on ‘MasterChef Australia’.Image credit (Instagram)
Meghan enthusiastically described the food to Prince Harry. “I wish you could try this. These dishes are fantastic. It’s really delicious, and there’s a hot sauce that, well, you know me, it is so good. I think it might be too much for you. It’s spicy,” she said, referencing her husband’s known preferences regarding heat levels in cuisine.Prince Harry responded warmly to his wife’s invitation. “Well, go and enjoy it. I’m very sorry to disturb you. All is well here. I’ll see you later,” he said. The judges and contestants applauded at the conclusion of the call, with one contestant reacting, “That’s crazy!”
Former MasterChef Australia producer shares behind-the-scenes details about Meghan Markle’s professionalism
Before the episode aired, Alexandria Funnell, a former ‘MasterChef Australia’ post-producer, posted a video on TikTok sharing behind-the-scenes details from Meghan’s guest judge appearance. According to Marie Claire, Funnell asked a colleague who still works on the show about their experience with Meghan Markle during filming.The producer texted that “she was so great” and “really good at judging.” They added that Meghan “was so nice to all the crew, had a good sense of humour and was just a normal human.” The colleague also recalled that “Her entourage was only two people, and they were so great, too,” highlighting Meghan’s relatively modest staffing arrangements during the production.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s April Australian trip combined business and philanthropic duties
During the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s four-day Australian trip in April, the couple engaged in private, business and philanthropic responsibilities. The visit marked a significant return for Meghan to the country, as the couple had previously visited eight years prior on their first official joint royal tour as newlyweds. The couple stepped back from their royal roles two years after that initial 2018 visit.
Meghan Markle’s culinary media presence reflects broader creative direction
The ‘MasterChef Australia’ appearance reflects a natural extension of Meghan’s involvement in food and lifestyle media. She has previously guest judged on a 2016 episode of Food Network’s ‘Chopped Junior’ and more recently demonstrated her kitchen skills in the series ‘With Love, Meghan’. Meghan regularly shares moments from her home kitchen on social media, showing continued engagement with culinary content creation.Meghan also shared a video in 2025 taking her followers through the journey of making a dessert named after her daughter, Princess Lilibet. The dessert was titled Chantilly Lili and was a “spin on my grandma’s banana pudding recipe”, according to Meghan, blending family legacy with modern culinary presentation and showcasing her take on transforming classic family recipes for today’s palates.
