Meghan Markle is set to co-host the next series of Junior MasterChef Australia – and Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could join her on the trip.
The Duchess of Sussex will join the team of presenters on the hit TV show when it returns next year. It follows Meghan’s surprise appearance as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia this summer, during which she challenged contestants to create a dish “fit for a Duchess” and received a surprise video call from Prince Harry.
Production for the show is expected to take place in Melbourne in the early part of 2027.
An insider told News.com.au that Harry and the couple’s two children – Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet – could visit her while she stays in the city for filming, though no firm decision has been made.
The Mirror has approached Meghan’s representatives for comment.
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Her previous appearance as a guest judge on Masterchef Australia was well-received by fans of the show – though a minor row is reported to have developed between the Sussex’s staff and TV execs in the lead-up.
In a promotional clip for the show, judge Poh Ling Yeow was heard saying: “We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this.”
But Meghan’s team was said to be unhappy with the use of the term ‘royalty’, which they have avoided using since stepping back as working royals in 2020.
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Meghan, and Harry are currently settling in to life in the UK with the kids after making a return this summer – though sources have previously said they are keen to be a “international couple”, making frequent trips abroad for high-profile appearances.
The Duchess of Sussex will fly back to Los Angeles in the next few days for the Daytime Emmy Awards, where her Netflix series With Love, Meghan is nominated in the Outstanding Lifestyle Programme category.
The family is also expected to go to California to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Meghan’s 70-year-old mother Doria Ragland, though plans to host her at the Sussex household are also being considered.
Harry meanwhile travelled to Ontario, Canada late last month, where he participated in a charity skydive alongside veteran families to raise funds for the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre and the True Patriot Love Foundation.
Junior MasterChef, a sister show of MasterChef, sees children compete in the kitchen. It aired in the UK too, with the latest revamped version broadcast on CBBC between May 2010 and November 2014.
Meghan Markle is reportedly being linked with a possible role hosting the next series of Junior MasterChef in Australia, a development that would bring the Duchess of Sussex into the world of competitive cooking television. The prospect has attracted attention because of her public profile, her interest in food and lifestyle projects, and her growing involvement in media and entertainment.
However, the reported casting should be treated with caution until it is confirmed by the programme’s producers or an official announcement. Celebrity television appointments often generate speculation before contracts and production plans are finalised. For now, the idea of Meghan joining the Australian cooking competition raises questions about what she could bring to the show and how audiences might respond.
Junior MasterChef is a version of the popular cooking competition that gives young contestants the opportunity to demonstrate their culinary skills. Rather than focusing exclusively on professional chefs, the programme highlights children who enjoy cooking and want to develop their abilities. Contestants prepare dishes, face challenges and receive feedback from experienced judges.
The format combines competition with entertainment and personal stories. Young participants are encouraged to learn from mistakes, experiment with ingredients and show creativity in the kitchen. The programme can also introduce viewers to different cuisines and demonstrate how cooking skills develop through practice.
A celebrity host could add another dimension to the series. If Meghan were to take on such a role, she could help guide contestants through the competition, introduce challenges and speak with the young cooks about their experiences. Her presence could also attract viewers who might not normally watch a cooking programme aimed at children.
Meghan has spent years in the public eye, first through her acting career and later through her marriage to Prince Harry. Before becoming a member of the British royal family, she appeared in television productions and maintained a lifestyle website that covered food, travel, fashion and other personal interests.
Her earlier lifestyle work included recipes, entertaining ideas and articles about everyday living. Those interests have contributed to the public image she has developed through projects outside traditional acting. A cooking programme would therefore connect with a subject she has discussed previously, although hosting a major television competition would involve a different set of responsibilities.
A presenter must keep a programme moving, explain challenges clearly and help contestants feel comfortable in front of cameras. When the participants are children, the role also requires patience and an ability to communicate in an encouraging way. The host must support the entertainment value of the show without allowing the competition to become unnecessarily stressful for its youngest participants.
Meghan’s potential involvement would also place her in a familiar but demanding media environment. Public figures who appear in established television formats often face close attention from audiences, journalists and online commentators. Every aspect of their performance, from their presentation style to their interactions with contestants, can become a subject of discussion.
For a programme such as Junior MasterChef, the central challenge would be to ensure that the children remain the main attraction. Viewers tune in to watch young cooks demonstrate their skills, overcome difficult tasks and produce dishes that sometimes exceed expectations. A host can help create the atmosphere, but the contestants and their progress must remain at the heart of the series.
Australia has a strong television audience for food-related entertainment. Cooking competitions appeal to viewers because they combine practical skills with personal ambition, time pressure and the excitement of seeing a dish completed. Junior formats add another element by showing how young people approach unfamiliar ingredients and learn to handle challenges.
Children taking part in these programmes can have very different levels of experience. Some may already cook regularly at home, while others may be discovering new techniques during the competition. Their enthusiasm and individuality often become important parts of the programme, making it more than a straightforward contest over who can prepare the best meal.
A well-known host could help connect these individual stories with the wider audience. Meghan might, if appointed, discuss the inspiration behind a contestant’s dish, ask about family food traditions or encourage a young cook after a difficult challenge. Such interactions could make the programme more personal and help viewers understand the effort involved in each preparation.
Her international recognition could also increase interest in the Australian series beyond its usual audience. Meghan and Prince Harry have maintained a substantial public profile in the United States, Britain and other countries. A television appearance connected with an Australian production could attract international entertainment coverage and encourage viewers to learn more about the programme.
Nevertheless, celebrity attention does not automatically guarantee a successful series. Audiences can be sceptical when a famous personality joins a programme with an established identity. Some viewers may welcome a fresh face, while others may prefer a host whose previous work is closely connected to cooking or food television.
The response would depend on the role Meghan actually played, the chemistry between the presenters and contestants, and the way the programme balanced celebrity interest with its original format. If she were expected to host, she would need to establish a natural relationship with the young participants rather than relying solely on her fame.
There would also be practical questions about the production. A new season requires scheduling, filming arrangements, a supporting team and decisions about the judging panel. The host’s responsibilities would need to fit alongside the work of the judges, who provide technical feedback on flavour, presentation, timing and cooking methods.
The distinction between hosting and judging would be important. A host generally helps guide viewers through the competition and supports the contestants during the process. Judges, by contrast, assess the dishes and decide how participants perform in particular challenges. If Meghan joined the programme, the exact nature of her position would determine how she contributed to the competition.
Her involvement could also renew discussion about her wider entertainment plans. Since stepping away from their senior roles within the British royal family, Meghan and Prince Harry have pursued projects in media, production and lifestyle-related areas. Their work has attracted both interest and criticism, reflecting the level of public attention surrounding their decisions.
Food and lifestyle content offers opportunities to reach audiences through everyday subjects. Cooking is a familiar activity that connects with family life, culture and personal creativity. Unlike political or royal controversies, a cooking programme can provide a relatively straightforward setting in which a public figure is judged primarily on communication, presentation and interaction with others.
Even so, Meghan’s public profile means that any television role would likely attract attention beyond the show itself. Supporters might welcome the opportunity to see her in a different environment, while critics could question whether her celebrity status is the right fit for a children’s cooking competition. These reactions are part of the media environment surrounding prominent personalities, but they would not necessarily reflect the opinions of the programme’s wider audience.
Ultimately, the quality of the series would depend on more than the identity of its host. Strong contestants, well-designed challenges, constructive judging and effective storytelling are all important elements of a successful cooking competition. The production would need to maintain a welcoming atmosphere while ensuring that the contest remains engaging.
If Meghan Markle is officially announced as the next host of Junior MasterChef in Australia, the appointment would represent a notable television development and could bring additional international attention to the programme. It would also give her an opportunity to connect her interest in lifestyle subjects with a format built around young people’s creativity and ambition.
Until an official confirmation is available, however, the reported possibility remains unverified. Viewers will need to wait for reliable details about the next series, including its presenter, judges and production plans. Whatever the final decision, Junior MasterChef will ultimately be judged by the young cooks at its centre and by whether the programme continues to make cooking an enjoyable and inspiring experience for audiences.