Meghan Markle insists that she doesn't want to be called 'Duchess' as Poh Ling Yeow introduces her as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia in front of stunned contestants

Meghan Markle insisted that she did not want to be called 'Duchess' as Poh Ling Yeow introduced her on MasterChef Australia on Sunday evening. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, made her much-anticipated debut on the cooking show after filming the guest spot during her tour to Australia three months ago. Before Meghan arrived on set, Poh told the contestants she was so excited to introduce the 'mystery guest judge' filling in for Andy Allen, who was on paternity leave, that she was trying to refrain from 'swearing'. Meghan then strutted into the MasterChef kitchen, much to the shock of the amateur chefs.'Welcome. Do I call you Duchess?' an noticeably nervous Poh asked after giving her a warm hug. 'Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah,' Meghan insisted.Meghan Markle insisted that she did not want to be called 'Duchess' as Poh Ling Yeow introduced her on MasterChef Australia on Sunday evening The Duchess of Sussex , 44, made her much-anticipated debut on the cooking show after filming the guest spot during her tour to Australia three months agoMeghan insistence that the cast use her first name rather than her title comes after her alleged sensitivities over claims that her Australian tour with Prince Harry back in April was cashing in on their royal links.She was reportedly 'frustrated' with producers when she was described as 'royalty' in a promo for Australia's wildly popular reality TV show.'Meghan and her team had 'specifically' made clear they did not want the word 'royal' used', a source said at the time the promo was released.The report went on to claim Meghan was unhappy about being described as royalty, despite the fact that, through her marriage to Harry, the term is technically correct.After introducing herself as 'Meghan' on the show on Sunday night, she went on declare her love for the land Down Under, explaining the trip was a 'full circle' moment for her and her husband as they had announced they were expecting their son, Prince Archie, while visiting the country eight years ago.'Oh, we're so excited. We love Australia. We had the most sentimental, amazing time. We were here almost eight years ago. We announced we were pregnant with Archie at the time. So, it's full circle, here we are, but thrilled to be here with all of you and taste some really good food. I've heard you've been cooking up a storm this season,' she said.Meghan then went on to proudly boast that both her children - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - enjoy eating Brussels sprouts and encouraged MasterChef Australia contestants to 'keep a sense of humour'. Before Meghan arrived on set, Poh told the contestants she was so excited to introduce a mystery guest judge filling in for Andy Allen , who was on paternity leave, that she was trying to refrain from 'swearing'For Meghan's guest spot, contestants of the hit show were asked to create a 'dish fit for a Duchess' using ingredients she handpicked from the pantry.She asked them to whip up a dish using ingredients like honey, macadamia nuts, citrus, edible flowers and celeriac.As she unveiled a table laden with seasonal produce, Meghan told the contestants 'my kids eat Brussels sprouts' as judge Poh Ling Yeow could be heard saying 'that's impressive'.The Duchess, whose Netflix series With Love, Meghan was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy, also had a few words of wisdom for the contestants as she acknowledged 'there is a lot of pressure in this kitchen'.'I don't like to cook that way, I like to cook in a really relaxed fashion,' she continued.'So, all I can say to the competitors was to just remember to have fun, to keep a sense of humour about it, and to cook from the heart'.Meghan added that 'food and cooking are how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family and my kids' in a sweet nod to her and Prince Harry's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.She told the contestants: 'I'd love it if there's a connection that you can find when, as you're cooking something, what is the story behind it?... What is something from your family or from a memory... something sentimental that we can also taste as we taste your dish?' Meghan then went on to proudly boast that both her children - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - enjoy eating Brussels sprouts and encouraged MasterChef Australia contestants to 'keep a sense of humour''These are all things that, for me, feel really nostalgic,' she added.The former actress has said her love of good food and Australia were the two reasons she chose to be a guest judge on the country's biggest cooking show.'What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes,' Meghan said in a press release announcing the broadcast date.'It's such a great show. I'm just really honoured that I was asked to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.'Meghan earned a surprise Daytime Emmy nomination for her axed Netflix cooking series - eight years after she 'politely turned down' an invite to the glitzy awards ceremony.Meghan launched the first series of With Love, Meghan on the streaming platform in March 2025, alongside unveiling her lifestyle brand As Ever.A second series and Christmas special followed, with the mother-of-two offering hosting tips and cooking lessons from inside a rented £5 million mansion near her and Prince Harry's Montecito home. The former actress has said her love of good food and Australia were the two reasons she chose to be a guest judge on the country's biggest cooking showHowever, the show was largely panned by critics and viewers alike after it failed to break into the streamer's top 1,000 most-watched programmes, according to viewing figures released by Netflix.Despite scathing reviews, the show - which was axed in January 2026 - has received a nomination in the outstanding lifestyle program category.