Meghan Markle insider shuts down claims she 'upset' MasterChef Australia star

Alicia Liberty Sat, July 25, 2026 at 7:25 PM UTC

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Meghan Markle was a guest judge on the cooking competition series (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle sparked royal controversy after allegations that she had upset a MasterChef Australia judge before her much-anticipated celebrity appearance, scheduled to air on Sunday, July 26.

However, an insider has now stepped forward to strongly refute these claims. According to People, the insider maintained the Duchess of Sussex "had a great time" during the filming of her celebrity guest appearance and stated reports indicating otherwise are "false."

The rebuttal comes after Australian media reports alleged Meghan, 44, and her representatives were dissatisfied with how she was presented in a promotional video for the culinary competition.

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Speaking to the publication, the insider stated, "Meghan and the MasterChef judges had a great time on set together. They immediately had such a great rapport and had a really fun time working with the contestants and crew as well. Meghan left the set that day with such a positive experience."

The insider continued: "Any reporting otherwise is false."

Meghan Markle appeared on Masterchef Australia in a guest appearance (Image: Instagram)

These remarks follow reports that Meghan and her representatives were purportedly displeased after judge Poh Ling Yeow described the Duchess as "royalty" while presenting her in a promotional teaser, reports the Express.

Recorded during Meghan and Prince Harry's Australian visit in April, the footage featured Yeow declaring: "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this. All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia...the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!"

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Multiple reports indicated that Meghan felt "very frustrated" by the specific wording and had expressly asked that the term "royal" be avoided.

Judge Poh Ling Yeow referred to the Duchess as "royalty (Image: Instagram)

The account also claimed representatives from the Duchess's staff were present outside the studio during filming of the introduction and only discovered it once the promotional material had been broadcast.

Meghan and Prince Harry withdrew as working royals in 2020 before moving to California. While they consented to discontinue using their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) designations, they kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, ensuring that conversations about royal titles and language have persisted following their exit from official duties.

The alleged response might surprise certain royal observers, given that Meghan has been formally acknowledged using her ducal title on previous occasions.

Throughout her now-canceled podcast, Archetypes, she appeared simply as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex." Similarly, on her Netflix program With Love, Meghan, which she hosts and executive produces, she is also listed as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex."

As recently as last April, another controversy regarding the use of her royal designation surfaced when a video posted online by podcast host Jamie Kern Lima displayed a gift basket with an accompanying card stating: "With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”