Meghan Markle returns to the kitchen.
The Duchess of Sussex will appear on MasterChef Australia on Sunday, July 26, Network 10 announced on Monday.
“The countdown has begun! Meghan, Duchess of Sussex joins the #MasterChefAU kitchen as a guest judge, bringing her love of food, fun seasonal ingredients, to one of the competition’s most memorable challenges,” the network said on Instagram.
The post featured a photo of Markle, 44, dressed all in black on the set of a reality cooking show, along with foodies Po Ling Yeo, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Paramount Skydance, which owns Network Ten, described Markle as an “entrepreneur, humanitarian and passionate home cook” in a press release about the episode.
During her appearance, Markle “challenges chefs to create dishes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and the personal stories behind them,” according to the release.
The network also said Markle’s “love of food has been reflected in recent projects, including the Netflix show ‘Meghan,’ which was canceled after two seasons, and the struggling lifestyle brand ‘As Ever.'”
“What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? It was two things: a love of food and a love of Australia. It was an easy yes,” Ms Markle said in a statement.
“It’s such a great show,” she continued. “I’m really honored to have been asked to be here with you all and be able to judge some of these meals.”
During the episode, contestants must “create a dish fit for a duchess” from selected ingredients including carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, Australian honey, macadamia nuts, quinces, lemons, apples, tangerines and strawberries.
Paramount said cooks will also be “encouraged to celebrate what’s in season while sharing something personal about themselves.”
In the comments section of Network 10’s Instagram post, some critics have already vowed to boycott Markle’s episode. The photo was taken by Markle during her fake royal trip with Prince Harry in April.
One fan wrote, “I’ll never watch it.”
Another fan said: “I love watching Masterchef but I’m not going to watch it with my girlfriend.”
A third person pointed out that Markle is “not a chef.”
“This is the first time I haven’t watched this show since it started, first time ever!!” wrote another, before calling the former “Suits” actress “nauseating!”
Another fan mocked Markle, calling her “duchess” on Network 10, even though she retired from royal duties in 2020.
However, Ms Markle is still technically the Duchess of Sussex, a title given to her by the late Queen Elizabeth as a gift for her and Prince Harry’s 2018 royal wedding.
When the couple left the royal family to move to the United States in 2020, the Queen allowed them to keep their Sussex titles, but prohibited them from using the name “Sussex Royal” for projects outside the royal family.
Other fans also showed their support for Markle’s “MasterChef” live performance in the comments on Instagram.
“I love this about her…she’s working and finding opportunities for herself,” one fan wrote.
Another fan said: “Can’t wait to meet her.”
Another wrote: “Meghan shine ❤️.”
In Netflix’s “With Love, Meghan Markle,” Ms. Markle cooked for celebrity friends and famous chefs at her California home near Prince Harry’s $14 million Montecito mansion.
Page Six confirmed in January that the series would not be recommissioned by Netflix for a third season due to declining ratings.
In March, we revealed that the streaming service had ended its relationship with Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand.
But the company is also working with the Sussexes on several other initiatives as part of its lucrative deal with them, including adapting the books “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date.”
