The episode was recorded during the Duchess of Sussex's trip to Australia in April
Meghan Markle made her much-anticipated debut as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia on Sunday evening, insisting that contestants drop the formal title.
When fellow judge Poh Ling Yeow greeted her with "Do I call you Duchess?", the 44-year-old was quick to respond: "Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah."
Yet the Duchess of Sussex appeared to lean into the very title she had rejected moments later, setting competitors a challenge to prepare a dish "fit for a Duchess" using ingredients she had personally selected.
The episode aired at 7pm Australian time, with UK viewers able to watch from 10am.
The lifestyle brand owner and self-described passionate home cook had been billed as a mystery guest, stepping in for regular judge Andy Allen, a former MasterChef Australia winner currently on paternity leave.
Poh Ling Yeow, the programme's much-loved judge and series one runner-up, built anticipation by telling contestants she was thrilled to introduce their surprise visitor before Meghan strode onto set wearing a mid-length black linen dress.
Her appearance came after reported tensions with producers over promotional material.
According to the Daily Mail, her team had "specifically" asked that all references to her royal status be removed from the programme's marketing.
Speaking about her return to Australia, Meghan struck an emotional tone, describing the trip as a "full circle" moment. "We love Australia. We had the most sentimental, amazing time.
“We were here almost eight years ago. We announced we were pregnant with Archie at the time. So, it's full circle; here we are," she told the contestants, adding that she was "thrilled" to sample their cooking.
The cameo, filmed during the couple's April visit, also saw Prince Harry's wife reflect on the role food plays in her life. She called cooking her "love language," explaining: "It's how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family, and my kids."
For the cooking challenge, Markle provided contestants with honey, macadamia nuts, citrus, edible flowers and celeriac. Notably, edible flowers feature among the products available through her As Ever lifestyle website, where they retail at $15 (£11.60).
The mother-of-two also shared domestic details, revealing that both her children are fans of Brussels sprouts, and urged competitors to "keep a sense of humour" while acknowledging the pressure of the MasterChef kitchen.
The episode was recorded during the Sussexes' April trip to Australia, which took in both Sydney and Melbourne. Their visit centred on mental health and youth empowerment, including a stop at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
