Meghan Markle has faced significant backlash after her unexpected appearance on an Australian cooking show, where she engaged in a playful FaceTime call with Prince Harry. This has led to a celebrity chef accusing the Duchess of Sussex of orchestrating a “calculated” TV moment that contradicts the couple’s ongoing requests for privacy.
According to RadarOnline.com, the 44-year-old appeared as a special guest on the Australian version of MasterChef, a well-known cooking show featuring amateur chefs competing before a panel of judges.
Markle, who runs the lifestyle brand As Ever, which emphasizes food, entertaining, and home products, made a surprise visit during Sunday’s episode. The segment featured what seemed to be an unplanned FaceTime call from her husband, following a crew member interrupting to inform her of a waiting phone call in the studio.
Initially appearing confused, Markle quickly lit up upon seeing Harry, 41, on the screen, warmly greeting him as the audience looked on.
A source from the television industry remarked: “Meghan’s presence was evidently meant to highlight her love for food while offering viewers a peek into her relationship with Harry. Whether it was perceived as spontaneous or strategic largely depended on viewers’ pre-existing opinions of the couple.”
During the show, Markle greeted Harry with, “Hi, my love!” and he responded with, “G’day.”
The two shared a light-hearted conversation that was met with cheers from the audience.
Some viewers took to social media to praise the moment, with one person commenting on X: “Wow, these two are so in love.”
Others, however, were skeptical about the spontaneity of the exchange, noting it only began after a production team member handed Markle a phone and announced, “We had a phone call to the studio.”
Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks was among the critics, questioning the sequence’s authenticity.
Speaking to The News International, Stocks said: “There was no authenticity. Just something cold, calculated, and pathetic.”
Stocks also highlighted the inconsistency between Markle’s appearance and the Sussexes’ long-standing privacy concerns following their exit from royal duties.
He commented: “She may call for privacy one day, yet the following day appear with her children for photo opportunities. She needs to get a grip.”
Since stepping back as senior members of the British royal family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have emphasized the importance of safeguarding their private lives.
Despite this, they have continuously appeared in documentaries, interviews, and commercial projects, often revealing carefully curated moments from their family and professional lives.
Markle has been increasingly involved in food and lifestyle content through As Ever, focusing on recipes, home entertaining, and cooking as key elements of her public image.
Her recent appearance on television aligned with this focus, placing her alongside budding chefs in the kitchen and incorporating a personal moment with Harry’s video call.
The brief exchange sparked extensive online discussion, with some supporters finding it endearing and critics questioning whether it was staged for television.
This varied reaction underscores the intense scrutiny that continues to surround the Sussexes, whose public appearances consistently attract both support and criticism.
Harry has maintained a distance from the British royal family since he and Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Their relationship has been further strained by a series of interviews, their Netflix documentary, and Harry’s memoir Spare, although he has expressed hope for eventual reconciliation with his family.
