MasterChef judges share personal experiences on working with Meghan Markle

MasterChef Australia received quite a lot of publicity recently, and it was all after a video of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, walking into the kitchen made its way across social media.

For those unversed with what 2026 will bring, the entire thing will be judged by Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Recently, Poh even came forward with her experience working with the royal for this guest appearance she made during her tour of Down Under with Prince Harry.

The entire thing has been shared with 10 News+ and sees the judge reveal something personal about the royal.

According to Poh, “The Duchess was quite clear on knowing the contestants better,” right off the bat. The Duchess took an active interest in the emotional and creative depth of the participants, rather than just the technical aspects of the plates presented.

“And she said, ‘You know, you know these guys, but I don’t. So I would really like to see some stories and food that’s going to show us their personalities',” Poh explained.

Another judge, Sofia Levin, also came forward to praise the royal’s authentic interest in the culinary arts.

“You know, she’s a home cook, and she’s a gardener herself. So when you think about it, we’re getting more and more connected to our food,” Levin said.

This appearance adds a prestigious chapter to the long-running cooking competition, which continues to dominate Australian television ratings.

It follows the Duchess's established history of culinary philanthropy, including her previous work on a community cookbook for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.