Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as a co-host of the new season of Junior MasterChef Australia. Meghan will join the 2027 series as a "special guest" with fellow host Poh Ling Yeow, according to Australia's Channel 10. The development comes after it was reported that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to Markle had been found in his former home in the Philippines in 2019. The Duchess of Sussex broke contact with her father last year, telling him she and the authorities knew he had abused young girl.
Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, reported to authorities in the Philippines last week alleging that he had discovered a stash of child sexual abuse images at his father’s former home there. Markle Sr has denied possessing child sexual abuse images, calling the accusations “sick” and “a bunch of lies”. He claimed the computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with his son in 2025.
The allegations against Markle Sr are currently being investigated by a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce in Cebu, authorities have confirmed.
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Meghan Markle to co-host MasterChef Australia
The Duchess of Sussex is set to co-host Junior MasterChef Australia, the children’s version of the popular televised cooking competition, in 2027. Meghan made her debut appearance on the adult version of MasterChef Australia in July this year, which was filmed during a four-day visit to Australia with Prince Harry in April. Network 10 said the Duchess’s appearance on the show drew its “largest Sunday audience since 2023”. Meghan will host Junior MasterChef Australia with current MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow, who will continue to judge the adult show in 2027 as well.
No date has been set for production, which will take place at Melbourne Showgrounds. “I had an incredible time with the whole team at MasterChef this past April, so when they approached me to come back and work with this young group of talent, it was an easy yes,” the Duchess of Sussex said in a statement.
“I love cooking with my own kids, so seeing what these young stars create in the kitchen is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see what they cook up!”
Will Meghan and her family re-locate to Australia?
At this time, it is not known whether Meghan Markle's move means a temporary relocation to Australia for Meghan, Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The family relocated to the UK in August, after living in California for six years.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle (right)
In August, the Sussexes announced they were moving back to the UK from California. The couple left the UK and stepped back from their royal duties in early 2020, before settling in California in March that year. They embarked on media careers which included a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and a deal with Netflix and Spotify.
Meghan's lifestyle and cookery show on Netflix, With Love, Meghan, ran for two series and a Christmas special but did not perform well with audiences. She also launched lifestyle brand As Ever, which includes a food range, but in March it ended its partnership with the streaming platform.
What Meghan said on father's allegations
Meghan Markle said she was alerted to 'disturbing' allegations against her father eight years ago - and is 'deeply distressed' by new claims he possessed child sex images. She also explained she had never allowed her father to meet her children Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet 'for one reason: to protect them'.
She said in a statement: 'I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.
'In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.
'I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.
'I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.
'Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.'