Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are promoting their philanthropic efforts during their Australian tour, but they’re also taking some opportunities to make money of their own.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, surprised contestants as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia during filming in Melbourne on April 15, Australia’s 10 News reported. Meghan has been tapping into food and lifestyle content with her brand As Ever and her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.
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A preview of the royal’s appearance was shared via Instagram by 10 News, which called her a “passionate foodie.” The clip showed judge Poh Ling Yeow announcing Meghan’s arrival before the royal stepped out in a stylish monochromatic black blouse and skirt.
“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this,” Ling Yeow said with a big smile on her face. “All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”
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While Meghan loves food and has proven her cooking skills, her fun appearance on MasterChef Australia came with a nice payday. MasterChef Australia judges are among the highest-paid television personalities in the country, and many high-profile celebrities, including Gordon Ramsay, Katy Perry, and Jamie Oliver, have made guest cameos on the series.
Perry, 41, reportedly got paid $100,000 for her season 12 appearance in 2020, which was filmed while she was in Australia for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Although Meghan’s appearance fee for MasterChef Australia has not been revealed, it’s reasonable that it would follow suit as another major celebrity appearance.
MasterChef Australia is not the only money-making venture Meghan and husband Prince Harry, 41, will be doing during their four-day trip down under. The former Suits actress is slated to be a keynote speaker during the “Her Best Life” women’s wellness retreat in Sydney on April 17. Event co-host Gemma O’Neill divulged that Meghan is planning on being very candid during her on-stage chat.
“I’ve literally just got off a Zoom with Meghan. It couldn’t have been any more kind of real. I just immediately loved chatting to her,” O’Neill said via Instagram on April 10 after a planning call with the former senior royal.
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O’Neill teased that Meghan was “really looking forward” to joining event goers, who paid between $2,699 and $3,199 for tickets, during the retreat. O’Neill added, “She was like, ‘Let’s just have a real chat, woman to woman, let’s just go for it.’”
Meghan isn’t the only one working during their trip; Harry is expected to be the keynote speaker at the InterEdge Summit on April 16, discussing workplace mental health and leadership.
The Sussexes visited Australia in 2018 while they were newlyweds and senior working royals. The couple stepped back from their duties with the royal family in 2020 and relocated to California. Since their last visit, they’ve also become parents to their son, Prince Archie, and their daughter, Princess Lilibet.
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.