Australia could be Meghan’s best shot at redemption as the duchess arrives at a turning point in rebuilding public trust

Analysis: Australia’s long and enduring relationship with the British royal family will soon face a unique test when the Duchess of Sussex relocates to Melbourne for a new job.

Meghan and Prince Harry recently moved back to the UK when their aspirations for media domination and philanthropy fizzled out after six years of living in the US.

With Netflix seemingly showing little interest in what the Sussexes have to offer, the duchess is now hoping for another shot at stardom when she travels Down Under next year for a co-hosting role on Junior MasterChef Australia.

The series seems, to some observers, an odd choice for the duchess. The show has been on a hiatus since 2020 and producers are banking on Meghan’s royal connections to draw in viewers, following her guest judging spot on an episode of the adult version this year.

Meghan’s career announcement came during what is arguably one of the most emotionally challenging weeks in her life as child abuse allegations emerged about her estranged father, Thomas Markle Snr.

In the days since the claims were made public late last week, the narrative that surrounded the duchess for many years has started to shift from blame to understanding.

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Since the royal wedding and the fiasco of Markle Snr staging paparazzi photos in 2018, and later selling stories about his daughter to the media, the duchess has shouldered criticism for cutting him off and distancing herself from the Markle name.

And now, we understand, for good reason.

Markle Snr is accused of possessing child sex abuse images in the Philippines − claims he denies and describes as “sick lies”. The Philippines’ interior minister, Jonvic Remulla, said “all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind”. 

Meghan must feel an enormous sense of relief that the allegations are now public and the reason for her perceived coolness towards her father now known.

In a statement outlining how she was made aware of the abuse claims in early 2019, Meghan described the allegations against her father as “troubling and disturbing”.

She added: “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.”

When he had his leg amputated last year, Markle Snr begged for his daughter to allow him to meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet before he died. Meghan was portrayed as being heartless for ignoring his plea.

Instead, she sent a letter to his hospital bed saying she knew about the abuse allegations, and believed them, and that he would never meet his grandchildren.

Since she was alerted to her father’s alleged actions, via a letter sent by Markle Snr’s first wife to the Met Police in the UK, Meghan thought the claims were being investigated.

But now fresh allegations came to light in the Philippines, where police are investigating child sex abuse images found at Markle Snr’s former home there, investigators in the UK have admitted they failed to act by passing on information to international agencies.

Meghan, under the impression the claims were being handled from 2019, put on a brave face at subsequent royal engagements with Prince Harry.

Over the years came the couple’s Oprah interview, the Netflix series, Harry’s memoir, countless podcasts and interviews and Meghan’s carefully-curated life on social media.

She made little references to her father during that period. To Oprah, she said of their past relationship: “I grieve a lot. I mean, I’ve lost my father.”

In the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan, she said: “I was a daddy’s girl all my life”.

In Spare, Harry described his father-in-law as a “complicated man” and said Markle Snr “often had plywood nailed over his windows, even when living in Los Angeles, well before Meg started dating me”.

Complicated is an apt word to describe the situation surrounding Meghan’s father.

But it could also mark a turning point for the duchess as she looks to rebuild trust with the British public following her move back to the UK.

Now the world is aware of what she was carrying in private, public sentiment towards the duchess may begin to warm, though she does have a long way to go.

A YouGov survey from early October found just 22 per cent of Brits had a positive view of Meghan, compared with 49 per cent who dislike her.

Her return to the public with Prince Harry earlier this month in Nottingham was a moderate success, and you could almost see the duchess breathe a sign of relief as she was met with bouquets of flowers and not boos.

She has copped criticism, and in numerous instances rightly so, for how she has presented herself since the royal exit of 2020.

But redemption could be coming for the duchess, and she may find a new adoring audience in Australia as she looks to rebuild Brand Meghan 2.0.

Her return to Australia next year comes after she and Prince Harry tested the waters in April, carrying out a four-day tour that had all the hallmarks of a royal visit, except it wasn’t.

The couple carried out a mix of charity and commercial engagements in Melbourne and Sydney, while Prince Harry went solo on Canberra, in what was a privately funded visit.

Unlike other British royals who’ve visited Australia recently − King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2024, the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2014 and Princess Anne in 2022 and 2025 − Harry and Meghan were not representing the monarchy.

Instead, they had their own motivations: supporting causes they’re passionate about, including Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, and making money.

The tour was significant as it was the first real test of whether the duke and duchess could take a half-in, half-out approach to duty − a model the late Queen Elizabeth II was steadfastly against when they made their exit from royal life in 2020.

That way of doing things was “foisted upon them”, an unnamed friend of the couple told Hello! recently, adding Harry and Meghan “never agreed they wouldn’t be half-in, half-out”.

The Australia tour proved Harry and Meghan could be half-in, half-out royals, whether the king or his family liked it or not.

Earlier this month, the Sussexes tested the model for the first time in Britain, appearing together in Nottingham to support various causes they’ve remained connected to since their royal exit.

Ignoring a letter written by the king which reiterated their status as non-working royals and described them as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”, Harry and Meghan carried out what closely resembled a royal day out.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s four days Down Under in April also showed that royalty does still attract interest, regardless of Harry and Meghan’s status as the non-working variety.

But will it bring renewed affection for Meghan, the type she experienced when she was first introduced as Harry’s fiancée in 2017?

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The duke, via unnamed friends, last week expressed his distaste for the phrase “working members of the royal family”.

Friends told The Times the couple baulk at being described as “former royals”, insisting the description “has an impact on how they’re perceived”.

“He hates it, she hates it,” the source said.

The friend added: “They are not ‘working’ for the institution, but they are members of the royal family and they work. Their days are built around their family life and their work. She’s running a business seven days a week.” 

Meghan’s business is partially the reason behind her return to Australia. As founder of the lifestyle brand As ever, she is looking to expand her products internationally in the coming months. Currently, they are only available to those with a US address.

The duchess’ jams, flower sprinkles, honey, tea and other “elevated” goods are rumoured to be coming to the UK by the end of the year. Before her visit to Australia in April, Meghan made sure As ever was trademarked locally.

Many were expecting the goods to be launched by the duchess during that visit but it never eventuated.

Whether or not her time on Junior Masterchef will include some reference or tie-in with As ever remains to be seen.

But the duchess’ stint as a co-host could give her the opportunity she needs to relaunch her on-screen career following the cancellation of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan after just two seasons and a Christmas special.

Rumours of her return to acting have so far proven to be untrue, but it is clear Meghan still harbours a desire to be seen as a lifestyle influencer with her passion for food, cooking and hosting paramount to her pursuits through As ever.

Australians will watch with fascination as the Sussex show makes its way Down Under in early 2027.

If Prince Harry and their children come too, cue the rolling media coverage and endless commentary about where they are and what they are doing.

Meghan’s time here will likely boost Australia’s special connection with the royal family even if she is not representing her father-in-law King Charles while in Melbourne.

As long as she and Prince Harry pay for their own security and not become a burden to the taxpayer, Aussies are likely to embrace Meghan and give her another go.