From royalty to reality TV! Meghan Markle set to spend weeks in Australia filming new show - and Prince Harry and their children may join her

Meghan Markle is reportedly heading back to Australia, set to land a starring role on one of the country's most popular television franchises.The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is expected to spend weeks in Melbourne next year after reportedly signing on to host the upcoming season of Junior MasterChef Australia.The children's cooking competition is understood to be returning to Channel Ten in 2027, six years after it last aired, with Meghan tipped to appear alongside MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow.A source close to the production said the Duchess would play a key hosting role on the revived series, which is expected to film in Melbourne over several weeks in early to mid-2027, according to news.com.au.The television gig could see her temporarily relocate to Victoria while cameras are rolling.It is also understood Prince Harry and the couple's two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, could join her in Australia during the production, although no firm plans have been confirmed. Meghan Markle is reportedly heading back to Australia, set to land a starring role on one of the country's most popular television franchisesThe Sussexes recently relocated back to the UK after several years overseas and have reportedly embraced a more international lifestyle.Sources previously suggested the couple were keen to remain flexible about where they spend extended periods of time, with Australia understood to be among the destinations under consideration.'It'll be an extended period of time. It could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more. I don't think even they know yet,' a source told The Sunday Times in August.'They might suddenly go, "Why don't we try Canada for a while?" They love Canada. "Why don't we try Australia?"'It's one of the great things about having left the institution.'Meghan's reported casting comes just months after she made a surprise appearance on MasterChef Australia earlier this year.In April, the Duchess quietly visited Melbourne Showgrounds to film a guest spot on the flagship cooking series while visiting Australia alongside Prince Harry.At the time of airing, viewers who admitted knowing little about her said they were pleasantly surprised by her warm manner and thoughtful feedback. In April, the Duchess, 45, quietly visited Melbourne Showgrounds to film a guest spot on the flagship cooking series while visiting Australia alongside Prince Harry. Pictured with Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia LevinSocial media users described the former Suits actress as 'graceful', 'down to earth' and 'genuinely nice', with some declaring she was one of the program's more impressive celebrity guests.The news also comes as Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr, 82, is facing an investigation by authorities in the Philippines after child abuse material was allegedly discovered at a property linked to him.Philippine authorities have reportedly been contacted by the FBI regarding the matter.The 'sickening' collection is said to include videos involving young children, according to claims made by Thomas Markle Jr.The Duchess of Sussex, who has been estranged from her father for years, said in a statement today that she was first made aware of accusations against him by the Met Police in 2018. She famously cut contact with her father in the same year.Meghan said news of the find had left her 'deeply distressed' and stressed it was behind her decision to never allow her father to meet Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.She added the decision, which came after a letter handed to her by the Met's royal protection team, was made to 'safeguard' them. Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Jr, made allegations last week that he had found a large stash of child sex abuse images on computers and phones in four large storage boxes 'left behind' by Thomas Sr when he moved back to the US from the Philippines earlier this year. The children's cooking competition is understood to be returning to Channel Ten in 2027, six years after it last airedMeghan's father returned to the US for health reasons and is currently receiving treatment in a rehabilitation centre after having his left leg amputated.He has denied owning such material and claims the accusations were 'sick lies' made up by his son, who claims he found the material at his home in Cebu province, for money.A statement from Meghan revealed she had first been made aware of 'troubling and disturbing' allegations in 2018 – but did not give any detail as to what these referred to. 'I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,' she said. 'In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.'I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.'I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.'Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.'