MasterChef Australia viewers had mixed reactions after Prince Harry made a surprise video call during his wife Meghan Markle's guest judge appearance. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, stepped in as a guest judge on the Network 10 cooking show on Sunday, July 26, 2026, recorded in April during her business tour of Australia with Prince Harry.
Guest judge role
Meghan filled in for regular judge Andy Allen while he was on paternity leave. She sat alongside judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli. The Duchess oversaw an immunity challenge where contestants cooked a dish "fit for a Duchess", requiring a seasonal ingredient with a meaningful personal narrative. The challenge included several of her favourite foods, such as strawberries, lemons, artichokes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and edible flowers.
Unexpected cameo
Halfway through the show, Prince Harry called the studio via video link while dishes were being judged. Meghan showed him the final four competitors' dishes. During the call, Meghan jokingly warned Harry that one contestant's homemade sambal might be "too spicy" for his sensitive palate.
Online reactions celebrated the couple's support for each other. One user wrote: "Aww, I love this!" Another said: "Great moment! That's a sweet marriage. Everyone present is going to recall this forever!" A third echoed: "Such a cute moment." Another commented: "Prince Harry and Meghan will always do whatever it takes to show up and support one another, and it's one of the reasons their marriage is so successful." One viewer added: "Most times I would say these things are scripted, but from Meghan's genuine reaction, she did not seem to be expecting H to call her, which makes it even better. Nice one!"
Title preference divides opinions
Earlier in the episode, when Meghan walked into the kitchen, Poh asked: "Welcome. Do I call you Duchess?" Meghan replied: "Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah." Viewers reacted to her request to drop her royal title. One moaned: "Does she think people care about titles today?" Another quipped: "Sure [laughing emojis]." A third commented: "Glad she reminded us that she is a duchess." A fourth added: "That's surprising." A fifth fumed: "Wait, doesn’t she want to be called royalty? Make up your mind."
