Meghan Markle's guest spot on Australia's MasterChef didn't just draw attention—it shattered viewership records. The episode, which aired Sunday night on Channel 10, pulled in 1.2 million overnight viewers, the show's largest Sunday audience in three years and its biggest ever overnight streaming audience of 118,000, according to OzTAM data cited by Australian media. Main Developments Recorded during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's private four-day tour of Australia in April, Markle appeared as a guest judge on episode 56 of Season 18. She joined permanent judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli on the show, which is based on the BBC's original MasterChef U.K. concept. Prince Harry made a surprise appearance via Markle's phone during the taping. For her on-screen look, Markle wore a black blouse from Matteau over a black skirt from Camilla and Marc, paired with black Manolo Blahnik pumps. Read also: Lightspeed-Meta Link Lets Stores Track Online Ad Impact on Sales Background This was the second time the so-called "Meghan Effect" landed Down Under in 2026. Prior to the April trip, Markle partnered with One-Off, a Los Angeles-based, creator-led fashion discovery platform, as both a participant and an investor. She used the platform to make her tour looks shopable, advertising outfit details including the MasterChef ensemble on her page in April. At least 16 local brands were featured in her tour wardrobe, including Karen Gee, Scanlan Theodore, St Agni, P Johnson, Beare Park, Paspaley, Friends With Frank, and Rolla's Jeans. Markle's publicist told WWD in April that over two dozen Australian products had sold out following her appearances. One-Off co-founder and CEO Emir Talu noted the platform had surpassed 1 million views of outfits within the first three days of her page launch. Why It Matters The ratings surge underscores the continued commercial power of celebrity endorsements. According to Launchmetrics data supplied to WWD in April, the Sussexes' tour generated $51.6 million in media impact value between April 14 and 17, with Australian fashion and jewelry brands as major beneficiaries. "The Sussexes' Australia tour is a reminder that the Sussex effect still translates into real brand performance. When Meghan wears a brand, the data follows," said Launchmetrics chief marketing officer Alison Bringé. Although Matteau declined to comment and Camilla and Marc had not responded to a request for comment at press time, the episode's viewership figures suggest that Markle's influence remains a potent force for both media and retail. What's Next No further guest appearances have been announced for the current season of MasterChef Australia . The show continues to air weekly episodes on Channel 10. Markle's partnership with One-Off may lead to additional curated collections or tour-related content, though no details have been confirmed. The question remains whether the ratings boost will translate into sustained viewership for the remainder of the season.