Meghan Markle is going back to the kitchen.
The Duchess of Sussex will appear on “MasterChef Australia” on Sunday, July 26, Network 10 confirmed on Monday.
“The countdown is on! Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joins the #MasterChefAU kitchen as a guest judge, bringing her love of food, entertaining and seasonal produce to one of the competition’s most memorable challenges,” the network wrote on Instagram.
The post included a picture of Markle, 44, in all black with food gurus Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli on the set of the reality cooking show.
Paramount Skydance, who owns Network Ten, described Markle as “an entrepreneur, humanitarian and passionate home cook” in a press release about the episode.
Markle, per the release, “sets a challenge for our cooks to create dishes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and the personal stories behind them” during her appearance.
The network also said Markle’s “love of food has been reflected in recent projects,” including her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” which was canceled after two seasons, and her struggling lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Markle said in a statement: “What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes.”
“It’s such a great show,” she continued. “I’m just really honoured that I was asked to be able to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.”
During the episode, the contestants will have to “create a dish fit for a Duchess” out of the chosen ingredients including carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, local Australian honey, macadamia nuts, quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries.
The cooks will also be “encouraged to celebrate what’s in season while sharing something personal about themselves,” Paramount said.
In the comments section of Network 10’s Instagram post, some critics already vowed to boycott Markle’s episode, which she filmed during her and Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour of Australia in April.
“Definitely won’t be watching,” one fan wrote.
“I love watching Master Chef, but won’t be watching it with her,” another fan said.
A third person pointed out Markle is “not a chef.”
“First time since the beginning of this show, that I WON’T be watching, first time!!” someone else wrote, before calling the former “Suits” actress “so nauseating!”
A different fan mocked Network 10 for referring to Markle as “Duchess” despite her quitting her royal duties back in 2020.
However, Markle is still technically the Duchess of Sussex, a title she received from the late Queen Elizabeth II as a gift for her and Prince Harry’s 2018 royal wedding.
When the couple left the royal family in 2020 and moved to the US, the queen let them keep their Sussex titles, but banned them for using the name “Sussex Royal” for their projects outside the royal family.
Other fans showed support for Markle’s “MasterChef” gig in the Instagram comments.
“I love this for her… she is working and finding opportunities for herself,” one fan wrote.
“Can’t wait to see her,” another fan shared.
A different person wrote, “Shine meghan shine❤️.”
In Netflix’s “With Love, Meghan,” Markle cooked for her celebrity pals and famous chefs at a house in California near her and Harry’s $14 million Montecito mansion.
Page Six confirmed in January that the series was not recommissioned by Netflix for a third season due to falling ratings.
In March, we revealed that the streaming service cut ties with Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand.
But the company is still working with the Sussexes on several other endeavours, including adaptations of the books “Meet Me at the Lake” and “The Wedding Date,” as part of their lucrative deal with the couple.
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