Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Serena WilliamsandMeghan Markleare friendship royalty!
The tennis star and the Duchess of Sussex first met at the Super Bowl in 2010; after crossing paths again in 2014, the two hit it off “immediately” and have been close since.
From Markle’s travels to watch the Grand Slam champ’s tennis tournaments and Williams' attendance at Markle’s royal wedding toPrince Harry, the two always find time to cheer each other on despite their respectively busy schedules.
“We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations – our endless ambition,” Markle previously wrote on her blogThe Tig.
In addition to showing up for one another, the two often praise each other publicly and share advice on industry pressures and navigating motherhood.
Here’s a timeline of Williams and Markle’s decade-long friendship.
Feb. 7, 2010: Serena Williams and Meghan Markle meet for the first time
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Williams and Markle met for the first time at Super Bowl XLIV when the New Orleans Saints faced off against the Indianapolis Colts in 2010.
Feb. 2, 2014: Serena Williams and Meghan Markle reunite at another Super Bowl
After their first encounter, Meghan and Serena reunited at the 2014 Super Bowl in New York and immediately hit it off. The duchess recalled their interaction during the debut episode of her podcastArchetypes, which featured an interview with Williams.
“I show up and I see you walking toward someone,” Meghan recalled to her friend. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, who isSerena Williamsgoing to talk to?’ I looked behind me and when I turned around, you were there right in front of me… We became such fast friends.”
Feb. 3, 2014: Serena Williams and Meghan Markle compete in the Celebrity Beach Bowl
Kevin Mazur/Getty
“We hit it off immediately,” Meghan wrote on her former lifestyle blogThe Tig. “Taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting … Not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff.”
Sept. 7, 2014: Meghan Markle celebrates Serena Williams' third consecutive US Open championship
The 2014 US Open marked the beginning of a years-long trend of Markle cheering the tennis star on at her matches. The win solidified Williams' third consecutive US Open victory and 18th major title overall.
Jan. 31, 2015: Meghan Markle hugs Serena Williams after Australian Open win
Markle celebrated Williams' victory at the Australian Open in 2015 with a tweeted sentiment alongside a photo of her and the tennis star embracing after Williams' win at the 2014 US Open.
Sept. 12, 2016: Meghan Markle supports Serena Williams' clothing line launch at New York Fashion Week
Thomas Concordia/WireImage
Williams teamed up with HSNto present her eponymous fashion line’s fall Signature Statement Collection at New York Fashion Week in September 2016 and Markle was there to support her. The Duchess snapped a photo with the tennis fashionista at the event and shared it in a now-deleted Instagram post.
“My eyes are closed but my heart is so open! So proud of your new collection @serenawilliams Happy I could be there to support you xx #NYFW,” Markle captioned the pic.
Aug. 15, 2017: Meghan Markle says Serena Williams will be an ‘amazing mom’
Karwai Tang/WireImage
WhileWilliams was pregnantwith her first child, Markle had nothing but effusive things to say about her friend’s future in motherhood toVogue: “She will be an amazing mom. The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity.”
Sept. 6, 2017: Serena Williams shares advice with Meghan Markle
After Markle and Prince Harry,Duke of Sussexwent public with their relationship, she was faced with international scrutiny — something the tennis champ was no stranger to. Williams gave her pal advice.
“I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide,'” Williams recalled toVanity Fair.
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May 19, 2018: Serena Williams attends Meghan Markle’s wedding
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Williams and her husbandAlexis OhanianattendedMarkle and Harry’s weddingat Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom in May 2018. The tennis iconchronicled her excitementon her Instagram leading up to their nuptials.
“So my friend is getting married today, and I’m up super early,” she wrote on her Story. “I’ve known her for so many years, and I’m so happy for her.”
Williams later reminisced aboutpreparing for the the big dayduring an interview withVogue, breaking down her royal look. She revealed she had several stylists braiding her hair and the process took “all night.”
“I was so tired. I was like, ‘I’m going to sleep,’ " she said. “So I lie down, and then they just kept braiding until the morning, and they finally finished.” She continued, “It was a very long process, but it was so worth it.”
July 14, 2018: Meghan Markle attends Wimbledon to support Serena Williams post wedding
For Williams’ Wimbledon match that year, the newly-minted Duchess of Sussex attended and alongside her new sister-in-law,Kate Middletonin the royal box.
While the tennis star didn’t win,she delivered a moving post-match speech, saying, “I was really happy to get this far. For all the moms out there, I was playing for you today.”
When cameras cut to the royals amid the heartfelt moment, Markle can be seen standing proud in the crowd.
Sept. 17, 2018: Serena Williams supports Meghan Markle’s cookbook,Together
Ben Stansall - WPA/Getty
Markle launched a cookbooktitledTogetherin September 2018, marking the Duchess' first independent project as a royal. Williams turned toTwitterto boost the book.
She wrote: “I used to call you Meghan (and I still do) but dear Duchess of Sussex your first project ‘Together’ a cookbook bringing women of all cultures together. I could not be more excited about it and proud of you. It’s beautiful — diversity, inclusivity, coming together in grief and joy.”
Sept. 17, 2018: Serena Williams talks friendship with Meghan Markle
During asit-down interviewwith Lisa Wilkinson onThe Sunday Project, Williams reflected on her friendship with Markle and how the two are always there for each other through thick and thin.
“We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently,” the tennis star explained.
Oct. 16, 2018: Meghan Markle wears blazer from Serena Williams' clothing line
Samir Hussein/WireImage; Serena Williams/Instagram
Fans loved that she supported a friend in style, andthe tennis star reactedon social media.
“The face you make when you and Duchess of Sussex Meghan have matching@serenablazers 😍” Williams captioned herInstagrampost.
Dec. 6, 2018: Serena Williams gives pregnancy advice to Meghan Markle
The sports icon told PEOPLEthat Meghan hasn’t changed one bit — despite juggling her busy role as a duchess, while being pregnant for the first time with their sonArchie Harrison.
“I’m like, ‘How are you?’ and she’s like, ‘No, how areyou?’ and I’m like, ‘You’re so sweet, but I’m really asking – how are YOU?'” Williams said. “I’m like, ‘Meghan, stop being so nice… you’re the pregnant one, aren’t you supposed to have hormones, why are you so sweet?’ But that’s always been her.”
July 2, 2019: Serena Williams says she won’t give immediate parenting tips to Meghan Markle
Knowing how tough being a first-time mom can be, Williamsrefrained from offering parenting adviceto Markle following the birth of son Archie until Markle had found her footing as a new mom.
July 11, 2019: Meghan Markle watches Serena Williams at Wimbledon
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.BEN CURTIS/AFP via Getty
When Williams was asked about thenegative press surrounding Marklefollowing her Wimbledon appearance the week prior, the tennis star had nothing but uplifting things to say about her friend.
“I didn’t know there was negative media out there, any time I see her name attached to anything I don’t read it,“Williams saidduring a post-match conference following her victory. “She couldn’t be a better friend to me. Low moments, high moments, she’s always there and that’s all I want to be to her.”
July 13, 2019: Serena Williams praises Meghan Markle’s support and friendship after Wimbledon loss
However, Williams said that havingMeghan’s support and friendship"is great,” telling reporters during herpost-match press conference: “She’s such a great friend and a great person as well. And always positive, no matter what.”
The tennis star continued, “It’s so good to have people like that, just to know,” adding that Meghan is “such a fan of the sport.”
“She, too, is happy for Simona,” Williams said of Meghan. “She saw that she played unbelievably, and that’s just the kind of person that she is.”
Sept. 7, 2019: Meghan Markles flies to New York City to support Serena Williams in the US Open
Markle couldn’t contain her excitementduring an intense showdown at the US Open Women’s Final in 2019. The Duchess flew all the way to N.Y.C. to support her friend in her match against Bianca Andreescu.
Meghan cheered on Williams from the athlete’s box at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she sat in front of Anna Wintour and behind Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian. The royal mom was spottedreacting to many nail-biting momentsthroughout the match.
Nov. 7, 2019: Serena Williams talks highly of Meghan Markle
Williams opened up about her relationship with Markle during an interview withAccessin November 2019. While the athlete said she doesn’t thing she can “relate on that level” of pressure surrounding the royal, Williams said that “she is one of the strongest people I know.”
She continued to rave about her best friend, noting that sheflew to New York to see her playtennis (with her newborn, Archie) and flew all the way back in the same night. “It kind of goes to show you what an amazing person she is,” said Williams. “That’s just one of the many amazing things that she does for me.”
April 20, 2020: Serena Williams jokingly avoids talking about Meghan Markle during a conversation with Naomi Campbell
Williams hilariously dodged a question about her longtime pal Markle’s move to the United States at a time whenthere was a lot of speculation about the Sussexes' exist from the U.K.
During a conversation withNaomi Campbelland sisterVenus Williams, Serena had no comment on the couple’smove to Los Angeles.
“Are you happy that your girlfriend has moved to America?Meghan Markle,” Campbell asked the tennis champion. “Don’t know what you’re talkin' about, don’t know nothin' about that,” Serena said with a laugh.
Campbell pressed further, adding, “I mean they’re on the West Coast but … I mean, it’s a big deal!” Serena quipped: “Never seen it, never heard of her, don’t know her.”
Joe Pugliese/CBS
March 24, 2021: Serena Williams praises friend Meghan Markle for handling Oprah interview
In the debut episode ofStuart Weitzman’sShine Series,Williams opened up aboutwhy she chose to publicly supportthe Duchess of Sussex after her bombshell interview with Winfrey.
“Meghan is a great person and I think the epitome of strength, the epitome of confidence, the epitome of just selflessness, and the epitome of everything is just her and everything that she’s gone through,” the tennis pro told Stuart Weitzman Chief Marketing Officer Behnaz Ghahramani. “And I know it’s not easy, and you can see from the interview that it wasn’t easy. But she had so much poise and she still had so much class.”
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Aug. 23, 2022: Serena Williams appears on Meghan Markle’s podcast
serena williams/instagram
Herfirst guest? Longtime pal Williams, of course! Their conversation centered around ambition, well narrowing in on topics like gender norms, tennis, motherhood and more.
source: people.com
