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Prince Charles is the next in line to the throne — but if he found out that the throne was full of MasterChef food, he’d shoot straight to the back of the line.
Last night, viewers of the Australian version of MasterChef were shocked to see that the British Royal didn’t eat anything that was served to him during his guest appearance on a much-hyped episode of the cooking competition. As part of a challenge where the contestants were asked to use local Australian ingredients, his Royal Highness was served wallaby tartare topped with green ants, and goat cheese mouse with bush spices, but the Prince of Wales abstained from eating any of the canapés.
This teaser for last night’s episode includes shots of Charles looking at the food with a drink in his hand, and congratulating the chefs on their accomplishments, but there is no actual eating on camera:
In April during The #RoyalVisitAustralia The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were filmed meeting judges and contestants from @masterchefau - today the show was aired on Australian TV. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/nwi6SItWBx
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 4, 2018
Neither Prince Charles nor the MasterChef team commented on the food snub, but fans of the show noticed this strange moment and immediately shared their reactions on Twitter:
Did anyone see Prince Charles actually eat anything? #MAsterChefAu
— Scott Ellis (@blahblahellis) July 4, 2018
Everyone seems to be eating while Prince Charles is still chatting. Maybe waiting to see if someone else would throw up before he tries those canapés. All looked yum though!. #MasterChefAU
— Jade Tabada (@JadeTabada) July 4, 2018
When they try to fool prince Charles into eating some of this... #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/vIIRSVJhka
— The Washing Up (@thewashingup) July 4, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: First look at contestants’ vegetarian, halal, gluten-free dish for Prince Charles #masterchefau pic.twitter.com/5tSlehqjd0
— Joe Hildebrand (@Joe_Hildebrand) July 4, 2018
I turned down sex to watch prince Charles eat ants. Instead I got neither. #MasterChefAU
— ✨ Miss Natski ✨ (@Natski82) July 4, 2018
Some viewers have speculated that Charles could have been adhering to a secret rule that forbids Royals from eating on camera, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Last summer, unnamed sources told the Sun that the Royal Family typically avoids eating shellfish and any raw meats while out in public for fear of getting food poisoning, so perhaps that explains last night’s MasterChef canapé incident.
• Did Prince Charles snub the bush tucker on MasterChef Australia? [The Daily Mail]
• Prince Charles’ appearance on Masterchef leaves viewers baffled [MamaMia]