Meghan Markle was very clear about her form of address during her recent appearance on MasterChef Australia. When judge Poh Ling Yeow asked whether everyone should call her “Duchess,” the mother of two told them to call her Meghan. The exchange took place in the episode broadcast on July 26, 2026, showing that the distanced royal preferred a casual approach while appearing on the reality TV series.
“Do we call you Duchess?” Poh Ling Yeow asked. “Oh, call me Meghan,” she responded.
Meghan and Prince Harry kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles after stepping back from royal roles in 2020. In a 2025 interview with The Circuit with Emily Chang, Meghan explained that she legally changed her name after marrying Harry in 2018. She is known as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. In addition, the couple uses Sussex as the family name they share with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, making the name important for their own identities.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, brought plenty of warmth and laughter to Masterchef Australia as she gave contestants their 30-minute time call, learned how to pronounce “herbs,” and charmed everyone with her graceful demeanour. “She’s very elegant,” noted one contestant 💫
📽️:… pic.twitter.com/4CbD3tTaTy
— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) July 26, 2026
A promotional video for the show had introduced Meghan using both her title and her maiden name, which later led to reports that she was unhappy with the wording. An unnamed source claimed that Meghan and her team were frustrated, but another source close to her denied the story and said she enjoyed filming, speaking to PEOPLE.
“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this,” the MasterChef judge said. “All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia…the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”
Meghan recorded the appearance during an April 2026 visit to Australia. Besides her appearance in the cooking competition, Meghan’s trip included stops in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, as well, with her visits focusing on the support of mental health, veterans, and women’s issues. According to audience figures, 1,160,000 people watched the episode featuring Meghan, making it the season’s third most-watched installment after the premiere and Sweet Week on June 14, 2026.
