Meghan Markle's Junior MasterChef co-star speaks out on new TV role

Meghan Markle's Junior MasterChef Australia co-star has shared her thoughts on the Duchess of Sussex's new role on the programme.

© MasterChef Australia/ Network 10

She joked: "Eat that, people," while praising the Duchess warmly, noting that she has a "will of steel" amid criticism and adding: "I just have even more admiration for her."

Meghan previously addressed her new venture in a statement, saying: "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.

"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."

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Although specific transmission plans have not yet been finalised, the series is expected to film during the first half of 2027 in Melbourne, Australia. It is understood that Meghan and Prince Harry's two children, Archie and Lilibet, could spend time with their mother away from the UK, where the family recently relocated from California.

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The new role comes at an emotionally challenging time for the former Suits star, following allegations involving her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, which he has denied.

The mother of two issued a statement addressing the "disturbing allegations", confirming that she was first made aware of the situation eight years ago but was advised to keep the matter private by police.

© Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images

In her statement, she wrote: "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."

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Speaking on HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, Royal Editor Emily Nash said: "She has kept a relatively low profile for long periods over the last couple of years, but that doesn't make sense at the moment, where she is trying to relaunch herself, where she's running this business, and she's also trying to get back into acting.

"So it's a really, really awful situation for her to be dealing with, but I think, as we said earlier, having the distraction of work, the children, and her various projects is probably a good thing."