Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Labeled ‘Cringe’ as Allegedly Staged Call Sparks Criticism
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Labeled ‘Cringe’ as Allegedly Staged Call Sparks Criticism
Morning Honey Staff Mon, July 27, 2026 at 12:45 PM UTC
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Prince Harry FaceTimed Meghan Markle on MasterChef Australia. (Image Credits: YouTube/CBSSundayMorning)
Prince Harry made a surprise FaceTime appearance during Meghan Markle’s guest stint on MasterChef Australia. The gesture seemed heartwarming, as she introduced the Duke to the judges and contestants, calling him a “charmer.”
However, their interaction immediately received backlash on social media, with some speculating that the call was planned rather than a sweet gesture between the couple. The moment came after reports claimed that her presence left the cast and crew drained.
Prince Harry FaceTimed Meghan Markle During Her MasterChef Australia Appearance
On July 26, during the episode of MasterChef Australia, Meghan Markle joined the episode as a special guest judge. According to a clip on X, when she was about to review a dish made by a contestant, a crew member came up to her, saying, “We’ve had a phone call to the studio,” and handed her her phone.
Upon answering the video call, she excitedly greeted her husband. Markle said, “Hi, my love!” He replied, “G’day.” She shared with the cast, “My husband’s here,” showing the phone to the judges and contestants, prompting them to cheer on his surprise cameo.
He asked, “What’s going on? Have I interrupted something important?” The Suits actress replied that they were in the middle of reviewing the dishes, and introduced the contestants to him, calling them “amazing” and “so talented.” She continued, “We wish you were here. He’s in Canberra right now with the veterans.”
She panned the camera over the dishes in front of her, saying he could try them, calling all of them “fantastic.” She added, “It’s really delicious, and there’s a hot sauce that, well, you know me, and it’s a Smaba, and it is so good. I think it might be too much for you. It’s spicy.”
“Well, go and enjoy it. I’m very sorry to disturb you. All is well here. I’ll see you later,” Harry said before disconnecting the call. She turned the camera towards the cast and crew members once again, and hung up the call.
Interestingly, her presence on the show had raised eyebrows, and now insiders claim that she had left everyone “exhausted.” According to Rob Shuter on his Substack, several production sources have shared that her appearance was “part of a much bigger headache.”
They explained that she was extremely demanding and wanted the production to revolve around her. The sources also claimed that there was some backstage gossip over her introduction as “MasterChef royalty.” They continued, “By the end of the day, everyone was just praying for the taping to be over.”
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The source shared that the Duchess of Sussex carried herself as if she were “Julia Roberts arriving to shoot a blockbuster.” They emphasized that there was an “audible sigh” when the production wrapped up as the tension was evident on everyone’s face. “People couldn’t wait for the day to be over. Even now, mentioning her name around the production office makes some crew members tense up,” the source concluded.
“He Never Did Say Why He Called”
Despite Prince Harry’s ‘unplanned’ FaceTime call to Meghan Markle during the episode showing their love for each other, the critics were quick to call out the couple for their pseudo relationship. A user tweeted, “Oh, stop that was cringe. It was a very, very obvious scheduled phone call and it made them look desperate and foolish.”
Another user added, “So cringey and embarrassing. Acting was soooooo bad.” A user commented, “How disrespectful to interrupt filming to speak to that ginger! Once again it’s all about Megsy and her insignificant life.” A user retorted, “It’s not a sweet moment. It’s unprofessional. You think all the hosts and contestants are allowed their phones on next to them while filming?”
A user joked, “Boy, the Markle PR team is really working overtime to change the narrative about their marriage troubles.” A user pointed out, “He never did say why he called.”
A user criticized, writing, “Of course Haz’s appearance was a given. Without the royal husband, the title and the borrowed prestige, Meg Markle is simply Meg Markle a former D-list actress making a guest appearance on a cooking show.”
However, some viewers loved the Invictus Games’ founder’s cameo and defended the couple. A user commented, “The contestants actually loved it. They were all super excited.” Another user said, “Wow, these two are so in love.”
“Prince Harry and Meghan will always do whatever it takes to show up and support one another, and it’s one of the reasons their marriage is so successful,” a user explained. A user shared, “How lovely, so natural, it was the ‘love you, see you later’ that got me.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
