Meghan Markle’s guest appearance on MasterChef Australia has triggered debate online over the continued use of her Duchess of Sussex title.Image credit (Instagram)​
Meghan Markle’s upcoming appearance on a cooking competition show has sparked significant backlash from viewers who object to her continued use of her royal title. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, will guest-judge an episode of the programme, airing on July 26 on Australia’s Channel 10, prompting threats of boycotts and criticism from fans of the series.Meghan filmed the episode in April during her tour of Australia. The channel posted a photograph of her on social media on Tuesday, July 14, where they shared the release date for the episode and described her appearance.
Channel’s announcement and public reaction
The promotional post included a caption describing Meghan’s involvement in the show. “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 announcement read. The revelation of her appearance generated immediate criticism in the comments section. Multiple viewers expressed their intention to skip the episode. “Definitely won’t be watching,” one person wrote, while another stated: “I love watching Master Chef, but won’t be watching it with her.”
Social media users shared mixed reactions after MasterChef Australia announced Meghan Markle would appear as a guest judge, with some criticising her continued use of the Duchess of Sussex title.Image credit (Instagram)​
The couple, who moved to California six years prior, are legally permitted to continue using the titles they received upon their marriage in May 2018 by the late Queen Elizabeth. However, they ceased using the HRH designation after stepping back from senior royal responsibilities.Some viewers expressed relief that the programme would not air in certain regions. “Thanks for reminding me not to watch,” one user wrote, with another chiming in: “Thanks for the heads up and making it easier to avoid.”One commenter offered a more pointed critique of the duchess herself. Another user slammed the former actress as “so nauseating,” capturing the sentiment shared by many who voiced their disapproval of her involvement with the show.
