Meghan calls Prince Harry 'a charmer' on MasterChef Australia
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, called Prince Harry “a charmer” after he surprised her with a mid-episode video call during her guest-judge turn on MasterChef Australia. The prince checked in as producers handed her the phone, in an appearance filmed in Melbourne in April on the couple’s private four-day Australia tour.
Key Takeaways
- Meghan greeted Prince Harry with “hi, my love,” then called him “a charmer” after his surprise video call.
- Contestants cooked a dish “fit for a duchess,” while Meghan asked colleagues to “call me Meghan.”
- The episode was filmed in Melbourne during the Sussexes’ April Australia visit in a private capacity.
- Critics and social media users were split, from “gush-fest” to warm praise.
- The guest spot follows her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, now Daytime Emmy–nominated.
What happened when the prince dialled into MasterChef?
According to the BBC, producers handed Meghan the phone when Prince Harry called to check in. She told the room, “My husband’s here,” drawing cheers and shocked faces from contestants and spectators.
She told him the dishes looked fantastic and showed him the food. He signed off by urging her to enjoy and adding, “Very sorry to disturb you.” Afterwards, she labelled him “a charmer.”
Why was Meghan judging MasterChef Australia?
Meghan appeared as a guest judge on the latest season. Contestants were tasked with turning a staple ingredient into a dish “fit for a duchess,” though she urged fellow judges to “call me Meghan.”
She filmed in Melbourne in April while she and Prince Harry toured Australia for four days. No longer working royals, they visited in a private capacity, combining charitable stops with paid events.
A separate report said she is keen to put the appearance before a large new audience as she builds her post-royal media profile. Follow related coverage in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What did Meghan say about cooking at home with the prince?
Early in the episode, Meghan said picking a favourite home dish was tough because she has “a lot of palates to appease.” Her British-born husband favours “meat, potatoes and cream sauce,” while she prefers grilled fish.
She said their children, Archie and Lilibet, often help with meal preparation and are “great eaters.” She urged chefs to cook something they felt connected to, asking, “What’s the story behind it?”
How did critics and viewers respond?
Reception was mixed. The Sunday Times called the episode “one big gush-fest,” while Hello Magazine said she “made MasterChef Australia her own” and praised her time with contestants.
Social media was split too: some called Meghan warm and gracious; others labelled Prince Harry’s cameo “cringe.” The appearance follows her lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, which has a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lifestyle Program.