A Washington mother says she is withdrawing her children from an elementary school after learning a Pride-themed lesson had been presented during music class without advance notice to parents or an opportunity to opt out, raising questions about district policies governing classroom instruction.

"I assumed I had probably missed an email asking for consent, but there was nothing," Maria Varchetto said in communications with school administrators, which she shared with Fox News Digital on Monday. "No advanced notice, no opportunity to review the lesson, no information letting parents know this topic would be discussed. No option to request that our kids be allowed to opt out and participate in an alternative activity. There was nothing."

Varchetto alleged the lesson was presented to elementary school students, including her daughter, on June 15 at Martha Lake Elementary School in the Edmonds School District as part of a music class and that parents were not informed beforehand.

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Varchetto said that a video entitled, "Why is Pride in June," from the YouTube account, "Queer Kid Stuff," which, according to the account, "imagines a kinder and more equal future through highly-accessible education and entertainment for kids ages 3+," was shown to her fourth-grade daughter.

The YouTube channel describes itself as an "LGBTQ+ educational webseries for children ages 3+ hosted by a tie-wearing queer lady, Lindsay, and her non-binary best-stuffed friend, Teddy. Gender Studies 101 meets Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood!"

Varchetto said the incident prompted her to remove her children from the school.

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"We are 100% removing our kids from this school as I have no trust in the leadership," Varchetto said.

Other materials Varchetto said were included were a list of videos from musicians in the LGBTQ+ community such as Freddie Mercury of Queen, Lil Nas X, and Billy Porter dancing in a ballgown on Sesame Street.

Varchetto told school officials that her daughter recalled hearing during the lesson that students could identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, asexual, nonbinary or Two-Spirit.

She said an administrator told her she had not been aware those topics were part of the classroom discussion, leaving Varchetto wondering whether the lesson included more than the materials she had been shown.

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"No handouts were sent home (which is typical for music class)," Varchetto told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Varchetto said she asked the school for a copy of the lesson materials but was told they could only be reviewed in person rather than sent electronically. She also said parents were not notified beforehand that the lesson would be taught, were not given an opportunity to opt their children out, and received no advance communication about its content.

She said that cultural lessons were taught every month for the theme of that month, but that Pride month was left off of the list of lessons.

"I feel mad they did this, mad they hid it," Varchetto said. "I feel insulted, offended, angry, and sad that my kids are now being taken out of a lifestyle they've grown to love, away from the friendships they've built, all because this one teacher didn't care to ask permission and a principal lied and hid it." 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Edmonds School District said, "The lesson was not part of a districtwide Pride curriculum. It was a music lesson developed by the school’s music teacher that highlighted the contributions of influential musicians, including some who identify as LGBTQ+."

The spokesperson continued, "The purpose of the lesson was to teach music and music history through the lives and contributions of notable artists. Discussions about an artist’s background or identity were included as relevant biographical context, similar to how students may learn about other aspects of historical figures’ lives that helped shape their experiences and contributions."

The spokesperson added, "We expect instructional materials to be age-appropriate and aligned with district expectations and state standards. As with any concern raised about classroom instruction, we will work with the school administrator to determine whether they met those expectations."

City Hall repeatedly touted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 19-member judiciary advisory panel as a "truly representative cross-section" of New York City’s legal profession — but four Jewish bar associations say not one Jewish member was appointed.

The groups, backed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), are demanding Mamdani correct what they called a profound omission from the influential committee, which screens and recommends candidates for judgeships across the five boroughs and across various different courts, including Criminal Court, Family Court and, on an interim basis, Civil Court.

City Hall touted Mamdani’s 19-member judiciary advisory panel as a "truly representative cross-section" when it was announced July 22. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s own Jan. 2 executive order establishing the committee stated that its membership "shall reflect the cosmopolitan population of the City of New York."

"The members announced today offer a truly representative cross-section of the legal profession in New York City, bringing a wide range of professional experience from all five boroughs to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary," said Ramzi Kassem, Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall, who supervises the activities of the Committee. 

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"Under Mayor Mamdani’s leadership, [Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary] will reach across the legal community to build a broad and highly qualified pool of judicial applicants," Kassem continued. "An independent and impartial judiciary composed of jurists who have served their fellow New Yorkers in a range of legal circumstances is essential to a healthy democracy, and these appointments reflect our administration’s commitment to a fair, inclusive and transparent judicial selection process."

But the Brandeis Association, Jewish Lawyers Guild, Brooklyn Brandeis Society and Queens Brandeis Association — along with other critics — say the absence of even one Jewish member from the 19-person panel exposes a glaring contradiction between City Hall’s rhetoric and its appointments. 

"At a time when antisemitism is rising and Jewish communities are increasingly under threat, excluding Jewish voices from this influential body is not only disheartening, it is dangerous," the groups wrote in a joint letter they sent to Mamdani on Monday. "The absence of Jewish representation on a committee entrusted with shaping the future of our judiciary sends a deeply troubling message to the Jewish community and undermines the committee’s credibility and ability to serve all New Yorkers fairly."

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In addition to Mamdani, the four groups sent the letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, along with other state, city and judicial officials.

The letter's warning, which included calls to "correct this exclusion," came amid renewed fears over Jewish safety in the city.

On Tuesday, a hammer-carrying intruder entered the grounds of the Jewish Institute of Queens and shoved an 8-year-old boy into a fence during a struggle with security, leaving the child with a head injury, authorities said. Police did not believe the boy was the intended target, and investigators have not established a motive.

The frightening episode followed last week’s alleged hate-crime attack on an Orthodox Jewish man who was stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver shortly after leaving an Upper West Side synagogue. Prosecutors say the suspect shouted "Justice for Islam" and "Allahu Akbar" before committing the attack.

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The mayor’s office, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary and committee Chairman Ali Najmi did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by publication time. However, Mamdani press secretary Joe Calvello told NBC New York that any suggestion the appointments to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary were motivated by religion was "false."

Calvello said Mamdani had appointed "a dozen qualified judges from a range of backgrounds, including Jewish judges," and said the administration declined to appoint retired Justice John Leventhal, who is Jewish, after learning he had served on Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team.

"Make no mistake, the leader of the Democrat Party, Mayor Mamdani, is working to bulldoze the rest of New York government to fit his ideology," Mark Bednar, a principal at Monument Advocacy who previously led communications for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and served as communications director for then-Rep. Sean Duffy, told Fox News Digital. "Americans of all backgrounds should take notice of the threat his ideology poses, and to sound the alarm about anyone he appoints to important positions."

Jewish civil rights attorney Gerard Filitti argued that the absence of Jewish members was particularly glaring in a city with the largest Jewish population in the country. He also pointed out the committee’s influence over the courts that hear hate-crime cases.

"His own chief counsel called the slate a truly representative cross-section of the city's legal profession, in the city with the largest Jewish population in America, on the panel that will pick the judges who hear hate-crime cases," Filitti wrote on X. "City Hall did not deny the exclusion. It changed the subject to judges Mamdani appointed elsewhere. Jewish New Yorkers are owed the same representation as everyone else, and this mayor just seated a panel that gives them none."

Utah isn't giving up its crown.

The Beehive State came in at America's No. 1 state for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best States rankings, holding onto the top spot overall while Texas claimed the nation's highest-ranked economy.

The list points to a notable regional trend, with Mountain West, Midwest and Sun Belt states claiming many of the country's highest overall rankings. Four of the top five states are located in the Mountain West or Upper Midwest, with Utah, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska leading the overall rankings in order. New Hampshire, Idaho, Florida, Washington and Vermont rounded out the Top 10.

U.S. News Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Gertler said the results reflect what he called "a broader realignment of American economic growth," with states in the Midwest and South gaining ground as businesses and workers increasingly gravitate toward faster-growing, lower-cost regions.

"States in the Midwest and South generally moved up the rankings, while several Northeastern states fell substantially, showing how human and financial capital are actively migrating away from high-cost areas into more affordable regions," Gertler told Fox News Digital.

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Texas climbed to the No. 1 spot in the economy category after the Lone Star State ranking the year prior. U.S. News credited the state with leading the nation in job growth while posting among the country's strongest performances in GDP growth, net migration and youth population growth.

South Dakota, meanwhile, posted one of the year's biggest gains, climbing from No. 8 overall to No. 2, while North Dakota jumped from No. 12 to No. 4, driven by improvements in health care, education, fiscal stability and economic performance.

Gertler described 2026 as the "Year of the Midwest," pointing to the Dakotas' rapid ascent as evidence of a broader shift in economic momentum.

"Low cost of living combined with strategic manufacturing investments are making these states prime destinations for young workers and expanding businesses," Gertler said.

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Utah, meanwhile, maintained its dominance by placing in the Top 10 across five of the report's eight major categories, including No. 2 in the economy and fiscal stability and No. 4 in infrastructure.

Gertler attributed Utah's sustained success to the state's overall consistency.

"Utah's No. 1 ranking comes down to consistency," he said, pointing to the state's strong economy, fiscal stability and education system, along with its young and growing workforce.

One of the report's most striking findings was that the nation's top-ranked state also placed 48th in natural environment, underscoring that no single category determines the overall standings.

No state dominated every category. Colorado climbed to No. 1 in education, Hawaii topped the nation in health care, Nevada ranked first in infrastructure, Wyoming led in fiscal stability, New Hampshire earned the highest marks in crime and corrections, Vermont ranked first in opportunity and Hawaii also claimed the top spot in natural environment.

Among the nation's largest states, Florida was the only one to crack the overall Top 10, finishing eighth. Texas paired its top-ranked economy with continued population and job growth, while California and New York did not finish among the top 10 overall.

The annual U.S. News Best States rankings compare all 50 states across eight categories that include the economy, education, health care, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.

After months of backlash over a controversial rebranding that alienated many longtime customers, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is betting its future on returning to its roots, selling off secondary assets, cutting debt and focusing entirely on the iconic country restaurant chain.

The Tennessee-based restaurant chain announced last week that it has completed two major strategic moves designed to strengthen its core business, while raising its profitability outlook for fiscal year 2026.

The company completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving 26 company-owned restaurant locations, generating about $77 million in proceeds that it plans to use to reduce debt. It also sold most of its Maple Street Biscuit Company business to Biscuit Belly and said it will close the remaining 16 Maple Street locations, allowing the company to focus more heavily on the Cracker Barrel brand.

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"Our sale-leaseback transaction will allow us to opportunistically reduce debt while monetizing a portion of our owned real estate at an attractive valuation," President and CEO Julie Masino said in a statement. "Divesting Maple Street sharpens our focus on the core Cracker Barrel brand and is expected to improve profitability."

The moves come after a challenging stretch for the country-themed chain.

Last summer, Cracker Barrel faced vocal backlash over updates to its logo and restaurant remodels, with longtime customers arguing the company was abandoning the nostalgic look that had defined the brand for decades.

The criticism coincided with weaker sales and backlash that prompted company leaders to restore the chain's signature "Old Timer" logo and interior.

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Among the chain's most outspoken critics was Tennessee resident Rachel Love, who previously told Fox News Digital she was disappointed by the changes. After recently visiting a restored Cracker Barrel that had undergone a remodel, however, she said the experience left her optimistic about the brand's direction.

"Going back to Cracker Barrel felt like coming home," Love told Fox News Digital. "Seeing the building returned to its original look honestly brought tears to my eyes before I even walked inside."

Love said the familiar brown exterior, welcoming Old Country Store and her favorite meatloaf meal made it feel as though the company had rediscovered what longtime customers valued.

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"What has impressed me the most is that this turnaround feels like more than just cosmetic changes," she said. "It feels like Cracker Barrel listened to the people who have supported the brand for generations."

Love added that she is "genuinely hopeful about where the company is headed."

Restaurant industry publication Nation's Restaurant News recently reported that Cracker Barrel's comeback "continues to gain steam," noting that the company believes it could exceed its financial outlook for the year despite restaurant sales remaining slightly below last year's levels.

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Cracker Barrel now expects to meet or exceed the high end of its previously issued revenue guidance and surpass its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) forecast for the fiscal year.

The company declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.

FIRST ON FOX: Accused of conspiring with her alleged Bahamian lover to hire a hitman to kill her ex-NFL player husband, Georgia mom and beauty queen Lindsay Shiver should be free from prosecution thanks to "legally fatal" problems with the evidence, one of her attorneys said.

Her U.S. attorney argues Bahamian prosecutors lack the jurisdiction to pursue murder-for-hire charges over alleged conduct that took place while Shiver was in the United States.

"Lindsay Shiver is not guilty of the crimes alleged against her by the Bahamian Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Period," attorney Craig Shirley told Fox News Digital in a statement.

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Shirley said the indictment alleges Shiver was in the Bahamas on July 16, 2023, when the purported conspiracy occurred, but he maintains her defense has provided prosecutors and the court with evidence from multiple independent sources showing she was in the U.S. that day.

"The DPP must prove it. Meaning that, as a threshold requirement, the DPP is required to prove that Lindsay was in the Bahamas on July 16, 2023," Shirley said. "It cannot."

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Shirley argued that the discrepancy is not only a factual dispute but a jurisdictional defect that prevents the Bahamian government from prosecuting Shiver under its own penal code.

"Lindsay cannot be prosecuted under the Bahamian Penal Code for an alleged act committed at a time when the undisputed evidence establishes that she was not in The Bahamas," he said.

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"This is not a technicality; it is a legally fatal defect in the DPP’s evidence, its charges and its continued prosecution of Lindsay," he said.

WATCH: Georgia housewife Lindsay Shiver on bodycam footage arguing with her estranged husband, Robert Shiver, over use of their private jet

Shirley said that he was "shocked and disappointed" that Bahamas authorities were continuing to pursue prosecution against Shiver, saying that they have the obligation to drop all charges.

"Lindsay should never have been subjected to a prosecution that the Bahamian government lacked the legal authority to bring," he said.

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Shirley noted that he issued the statement independently and that neither Shiver nor her Bahamas-based attorney, Terrel Butler, had prior knowledge he was providing it. Butler declined to provide comment.

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The alleged plot was unraveled by Bahamian authorities during an unrelated break-in investigation at a local bar in Abaco, Bahamas.

While searching a suspect’s phone, police discovered WhatsApp messages containing photos of Robert Shiver alongside text instructions allegedly sent by Lindsay Shiver reading, "Kill him." Defense attorneys maintained that the messages were taken out of context.

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Shiver, along with her lover, Adrien Bethel, and the alleged hitman, Faron Newbold Jr., were arrested in the Bahamas in July 2023. Shiver, along with Bethel and Newbold Jr., is charged with conspiracy to commit murder under Bahamian law. They pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Bahamas prosecutors and to Robert Shiver's attorney.

An Oregon man is facing charges for allegedly illegally catching and "wrestling" protected bluntnose sixgill and broadnose sevengill sharks in Puget Sound.

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife recently shared body camera footage of an officer confronting Connor Seifert, 27, in June in Pierce County, Washington.

"You know your shark rules," the officer could be heard on the video telling Seifert. "You can’t fully or partially remove sixgill from the water. 

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"When you wrestle a sixgill to shore like that, you hop on its back, you expose its gills to the air," the officer continued. "You know as well as anybody else does that Puget Sound is a nursery for these sharks. There has been a direct correlation between catching these sharks in this stage in their lives and the mortality of the pups inside the moms."

He added, "Once they exhaust themselves being fought to shore, then all of their babies die. And then, sooner than you know it, you’re not going to have sixgill and sevengill returning to Puget Sound anymore."

This came after months of following Seifert’s movements and his online posts, with officers finally setting up surveillance so they could catch him making an illegal catch.

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He has been charged in Pierce County with nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. The first is a misdemeanor and the second is a gross misdemeanor.

Misdemeanors carry up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail if found guilty and gross demeanors carry up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

"Fishing for sixgill and sevengill sharks is unlawful, and unfortunately, officers are seeing a growing number of online posts showing these sharks targeted and then unlawfully removed from or partially removed from the water," the department said in a post about Seifert’s charges.

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Seifert claimed that he hadn’t been targeting the sharks and that he had accidentally caught them, but videos he posted to social media that allegedly showed him holding a shark’s mouth open, while sitting on its back and holding it by its tail on the shore while it attempted to get away paint another picture.

The department said it has gotten 14 complaints about Seifert, mainly connected to his allegedly targeting the sharks.

"Puget Sound acts like a nursey for sixgill and sevengill sharks before they head out to the ocean, the department said.

The department added, "This is one of the primary reasons why it is unlawful to target these sharks locally, as the anglers fishing for these creatures are targeting them during a highly volatile era in the animals' lives."

Both shark species are listed as "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" in Washington State.

Bluntnose sixgills are categorized as "near threatened" and broadnose sevengills are "vulnerable," according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Meghan Markle's upcoming appearance on "MasterChef Australia" has already sparked debate, with royal experts telling Fox News Digital the backlash may be just as important as the episode itself.

The hit reality cooking series announced in an Instagram post that the 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex would be joining the show as a guest judge for Sunday's episode, writing that Markle will be "bringing her love of food, entertaining and seasonal produce to one of the competition's most memorable challenges."

In a press release, Markle, who filmed the episode during her visit to Australia with her husband Prince Harry in April, explained why she wanted to take part in the episode.

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"What attracted me to the MasterChef Australia kitchen? Two things: my love of food and my love of Australia. It was an easy yes," Markle said.

"It’s such a great show," she continued. "I’m just really honored that I was asked to be able to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals."

The press release noted that the cooks will take on the challenge of creating "a dish fit for a Duchess" using some of Markle's "favorite seasonal ingredients."

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In a preview of the episode that appeared on Sydney's 10 News, Markle appeared alongside season 18 "MasterChef Australia" judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Markle introduced her chosen ingredients, noting that the chefs had "quite the bounty her" and proudly sharing that her children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, "eat Brussels sprouts."

"That’s impressive," Levin said.

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"Food and cooking to me is really a love language," Markle explained later in the preview. "I think it’s such a great way to connect. It’s something that can feel sentimental and meaningful and It’s how I, it’s how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family, and my kids."

Following the announcement, Markle's participation in "MasterChef Australia" was quickly met with a divided reaction on social media, earning both praise from supporters and calls for a boycott from critics.

"Why? She’s not a chef??? Not interested!" one Instagram user wrote.

"Can't stand her. She's not a chef," another agreed, adding, "Why is she even on this show."

"Thanks for the heads-up and making it easier to avoid," one critic commented as another chimed in, "Definitely won't watch it!"

"First time since the beginning of this show, that I WON’T be watching, first time!!" another detractor wrote.

However, others expressed their excitement over seeing Markle's appearance.

"Can’t wait to watch it!!!" one social media user commented.

"I'll be WATCHING!!" another added.

"I know she will do a great job," a fan enthused.

"I CAN'T WAIT!! WE LOVE YOU PRINCESS MEGHAN," another supporter wrote.

"I love this for her… she is working and finding opportunities for herself," one fan added.

"All the people saying they won’t watch are the first ones who will be watching and later criticizing," another commenter wrote. "I can’t wait to watch! Love Meghan!"

Markle's appearance also made headlines and fueled debate online after a report claimed her team requested that she not be referred to as "royalty" during filming.

The polarized reaction to Markle's latest gig underscores a familiar pattern for the Duchess of Sussex, whose post-royal ventures have often generated as much controversy as publicity.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital the attention surrounding Markle's appearance, whether positive or negative, could ultimately benefit both the duchess and the cooking competition.

"Every time Meghan’s name gets in the papers, even if it is negative, it builds up the power of her brand," he said. "It also helps to hype the show before it starts."

"She was chosen as a guest judge to boost the ratings of the show," Fitzwilliams added.

While Markle's role has prompted questions about her qualifications, British broadcaster Helena Chard argued that professional cooking experience isn't necessarily a requirement for a celebrity guest judge.

"I don’t believe she’s a qualified chef. But then, they’ve had Steve Irwin as a guest judge before and he wasn’t a chef either," she pointed out. "So it’s not really about culinary credentials."

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The "Suits" alum's guest judging stint marks her latest foray into the food and lifestyle world. In March 2025, Markle's "With Love, Meghan" lifestyle and reality show premiered on Netflix. In the show, Meghan shared cooking, gardening and entertaining tips alongside celebrity guests. "With Love, Meghan" also served as a launchpad for her As Ever lifestyle brand.

In January 2026, Netflix reportedly canceled the show after two seasons and later announced that it was ending its partnership with the As Ever brand though Markle and Prince Harry retained a first-look production deal with the streamer. However, "With Love, Meghan" recently received a surprise Daytime Emmy Award nomination for outstanding lifestyle series. "Meghan does have an interest in food and entertaining," Chard noted. "So from a PR perspective, appearing on ‘MasterChef Australia’ alongside well-known hosts, strengthens her brand."

While Chard saw the guest judging role as a natural fit, other royal experts told Fox News Digital that the response illustrates the challenges Markle continues to face with public perception after stepping away from royal life.

"People are talking more about why she's judging than what she's judging," royal reporter Kinsey Schofield said. "An image reset only works if the audience buys into the new image, and right now many viewers still see a disconnect between Meghan's branding and her actual experience or authority in this space."

"Social media always amplifies the loudest voices," the "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered" host continued. "That said, there does seem to be a broader sense of Meghan fatigue. Every project arrives carrying years of baggage, and that's a challenge most celebrities simply don't have. She isn't launching from a blank slate. She's launching from a very divided public reputation."

Fitzwilliams agreed, saying there have been "sufferers from Meghan fatigue for some time" and that "a great many viewers feel this way."

"Lifestyle is aspirational, it's lucrative, and it gives celebrities tremendous control over their image," Schofield said. "The problem is that audiences don't just buy recipes or table settings anymore. They're buying authenticity."

Fitzwilliams shared his view that Markle's cameo is also tied to her broader business ambitions. "She is returning to food in the hope this boosts sales of the As Ever products," he said.

Schofield said that the guest judge appearance may not deliver the hoped-for results, arguing that every project that Markle takes on is now judged through the lens of the duchess herself.

"Meghan has had several opportunities to reinvent herself since leaving royal life, and the pattern has remained the same… enormous publicity followed by polarized reactions," she told Fox News Digital. "One television appearance probably won't rewrite that narrative overnight."

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"People often react to the brand before they react to the product," she added. "That's the downside of building such a personality-driven business model. Every project becomes less about the content itself and more about whether people have bought into Meghan as the person selling it."

Beyond the public reaction, some royal experts questioned whether audiences would view her as a credible choice to critique contestants on "MasterChef Australia."

"Celebrity guest judges aren't expected to have Michelin stars, but they do need to bring something credible to the table," Schofield said. "Meghan's challenge is that she's still trying to establish herself as an authority in this space while much of the audience sees her as someone playing a part."

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich shared her opinion that Markle's divisive public image makes her guest appearance different from most casting decisions.

"Meghan is so polarizing that while such an appearance would be low-risk for any regular celebrity, it is likely to backfire," she said, adding that the duchess "has no credentials" and "doesn't come across as authentic."

"Given the failure of her previous cooking attempts, with lackluster ratings, this is all she can do now which is to be involved in a show which is already a success," Fordwich said.

However, royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner shared a more optimistic outlook on Markle's latest endeavor.

"Meghan is a master at reinventions, keeping herself in the public eye, and ‘MasterChef Australia’ is the latest platform to succumb to the real values of the lady and obviously cooking is one of many talents," he said.

Turner pointed to Markle's previous charitable work with the Hubb Community Kitchen, which was established in the wake of London's devastating Grenfell Tower fire. In June 2017, a fire ignited in the 24-story Grenfell Tower apartment block which killed 72 people and displaced hundreds of residents. After becoming involved with the community kitchen in 2018, Markle cooked alongside local women and helped publish a charity cookbook that raised money to support the initiative.

The royal expert told Fox News Digital that he also believed Markle would resonate with Australian audiences.

"Australia is a country which values people who have initiative and drive, and Meghan has that people's touch to support and offer cookery as one of her skill bases," he said.

For all the debate surrounding Markle's guest judging role, experts said the real question is whether the attention translates into viewers.

Schofield believes Markle's appearance could prove beneficial for "MasterChef Australia" if the buzz prompts audiences to tune in.

"Meghan guarantees headlines, and headlines translate into curiosity," she said. "Whether that curiosity becomes ratings or resentment is the million-dollar question. Producers know controversy can be good for television, but only if viewers stay for the episode instead of switching it off."