Prince Harry faces royal drama during return home
USA TODAY’s royal correspondent Jennifer Hassan provides an update on Prince Harry’s return to London amid confusion over his stay at Buckingham Palace.
Meghan Markle has returned to television nearly a year after the controversial second season of her Netflix lifestyle show was released.
The 44-year-old “Suits” alum appeared as a guest judge on the July 26 episode of “MasterChef Australia,” which was filmed during a four-day trip to Australia with husband Prince Harry in April.
Meghan, host of “With Love” and founder of the As Ever lifestyle brand, strutted through the double doors to applause from the season 18 judges, the four final contestants and her eliminated colleagues. She introduced the Mystery Box Challenge, which tasked chefs Vinny Gibardi, Petro Papatomas, Casper Kenworthy and Aaron Kerr with choosing a “hero” ingredient to spotlight in a dish that tells a story about a memory or family.
Options included Australian honey, lemon, macadamia nuts, apple, Jerusalem artichoke, celeriac and quince. She talked about Brussels sprouts and commented, “My kids eat Brussels sprouts.”
She added that strawberries and mandarin oranges are also among the fruits she grows at home.
Judges Po Lin Yeoh, Sophia Levine and Jean-Christophe Novelli encouraged the Duchess to have the honor of relaying a 30-minute time call while waiting for the chefs to complete their dishes.
“I don’t like to shout,” Meghan explained before approaching each station and telling the men individually that they had 30 minutes left.
Papa Thomas came out on top with a dish he had never tried before: celeriac ice cream with sautéed celeriac, pickled apples and hazelnut crumbs.
“I don’t understand why this is so good,” Meghan declared to cheers from past season 18 contestants. Papatomas won immunity and took 1st place out of 3 spots in the final.
The chef told Australia’s WHO magazine that Meghan was “very kind, very eloquent about food, very nice.”
Prince Harry blocks Duchess Meghan from appearing on ‘MasterChef Australia’
While judging the four dishes, a member of the production team handed Meghan the iPhone she was using to FaceTime with Prince Harry.
“Welcome home,” King Charles’ second son Harry said to his wife and Levin, who was standing next to him. “What’s going on? Did I interrupt something important?”
“Hello, my love,” Meghan said before introducing the royal family to the chefs. She went on to explain that Prince Harry was in Canberra to meet veterans, adding: “It’s amazing. They’re so talented. I wish you were here.”
“You should try this. These dishes are amazing,” she continued, panning her phone’s camera over Carr’s food.
