After the drama surrounding With Love, Meghan on Netflix, Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, is heading back to the MasterChef kitchen for Junior MasterChef Australia. The Duchess of Sussex seems rather optimistic about her next big role, saying that she had “an incredible time with the whole team at MasterChef this past April” and “can’t wait to see what they cook up.” Australian politicians, however, are already cooking up a response of their own on who will pay for her security, with one declaring, “Not a single cent of Victorian taxpayer money should be spent on this.”
Whatever viewers may think of Markle, her previous trip to the MasterChef kitchen apparently worked for the network, which said her episode delivered the show’s biggest Sunday audience since 2023.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security arrangements have caused plenty of drama in the past, especially when questions arise over who is expected to pay for them. With Markle now set to return for Junior MasterChef Australia, some critics are already wondering whether Australian taxpayers will be asked to help foot the bill. During the Sussexes’ visit earlier this year, however, reports indicated that they paid for their own personal security. Local police handled general public safety as crowds gathered, which differs from the state providing the couple with personal protection.
Meghan Markle Critics Don’t Want Taxpayers Footing the Bill
Over in the Meghan-critical r/SaintMeghanMarkle subreddit, users weren’t exactly lining up to offer the Duchess a warm welcome back to Australia. Many supported the idea that if Markle needs personal security while filming Junior MasterChef, Australian taxpayers shouldn’t be the ones picking up the bill. “Can Australia just take them for a while and teach them the ways of the world? Apparently Australia is one of the few countries to treat them like they deserve to be treated,” suggested a top commenter. “As an Aussie myself I am like why her. We have more talent than of her,” questioned another.
“Let the show go bankrupt,” demanded a third. “There aren’t many things that a nation’s politicians will agree on. What does it say about her that refusing to fund her security gets 100% support from politicians?” pointed out a fourth. Plenty of others chimed in with similar reactions, agreeing with Australian politicians who have already pushed back against the idea of taxpayers covering Markle’s personal protection. For her critics, an ex-royal’s latest cooking adventure isn’t something they believe locals should have to help pay for.
Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Co-Star Fires Back
Not everyone involved with Junior MasterChef Australia is bothered by the backlash surrounding Markle’s return. Poh Ling Yeow, who will work alongside the Duchess on the reboot, has now fired back at previous reports that the two didn’t get along during Markle’s earlier MasterChef appearance.
Yeow called their upcoming reunion the “ultimate clapback” to those rumors, joking, “Eat that, people.” She also praised Markle for having a “will of steel” while dealing with the criticism that seems to follow her, saying the experience left her with even more admiration for the Duchess.
Whatever critics think about Markle returning to the MasterChef kitchen, it certainly doesn’t sound like Yeow is dreading the reunion.
For now, there is no evidence that Australian taxpayers will be picking up the tab for Markle’s personal security when she returns for Junior MasterChef. Politicians on both sides have already pushed back against the idea, while Yeow seems more than ready to welcome the Duchess back into the kitchen. With filming still months away, Markle’s latest cooking adventure is already generating plenty of heat before either woman has even put on an apron.
