Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Displeased After Being Called 'Royalty' on MasterChef Australia — Her Team Had Explicitly Asked Them Not To

Meghan Markle’s recent Australia tour was already marred with several controversies, and now, a new controversy has emerged from the trip. It is being said that the Duchess was reportedly displeased after being referred to as "royalty" during her introduction on MasterChef Australia, with critics now hailing her as someone who is now “beyond a diva.”

According to RadarOnline, the incident occurred while she was shooting for MasterChef Australia in Melbourne, where she made a guest appearance. It was an appearance Markle made without her husband, Prince Harry.

In the promotional clips, Meghan could be seen alongside the judges of the cooking reality show, namely Jean-Christophe Novelli, Sofia Levin, and Poh Ling Yeow. Yeow introduced her by saying, “We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this.”

The incident reportedly caused tension behind the scenes as Markle's team had explicitly requested that references to royalty be avoided amid her already strained equation with the Royal Family and her attempt to establish a professional stronghold in an independent manner.

An insider close to the production of MasterChef Australia also revealed that Meghan Markle’s team had also made it clear that they did not wish to be associated with any terminology linked with the word “royalty.”

The source said, “There had been very clear and deliberate guidance issued ahead of filming that any references tying Meghan explicitly to royal status were to be avoided in promotional material. So when that line was delivered on camera, it appears to have taken her team by surprise, triggering immediate concern about how it might be interpreted once it reached a wider audience."

The insider said the incident could complicate Markle's efforts to build an independent brand following her and Harry's departure from senior royal duties in 2020.

The source added, “From the Sussexes' perspective, the issue wasn't simply the wording itself, but what it represents in a much bigger picture. There is an ongoing effort to shape a distinct identity for their 'brand' that isn't defined by royal associations, and moments like this risk reinforcing a narrative Meghan has been trying to recalibrate for some time."

Markle's representatives have not issued a public statement about the incident, she has publicly expressed a desire to establish an identity independent of royal associations while retaining her Duchess of Sussex title.

Some reports suggest Markle was unaware she had been described as "royalty" by Yeow, as she was not present when the line was filmed.

The controversy arises amid her and Harry’s Australia trip being already criticized for merging the charitable engagements with alleged paid appearances. The couple faced criticism from social media users who alleged their visits to charitable venues were intertwined with personal branding.

Another insider said the incident adds to the ongoing questions about Markle's public positioning The source said, “Among critics, there is a growing belief that Meghan is attempting to step away from formal royal ties while still drawing on the visibility and cachet those connections provide. That dual positioning is inherently difficult to sustain, and incidents like this only intensify the spotlight rather than ease it.”