The following article mentions mental health issues.
These two have been through the most, and they’ve continued to support each other all the way.
Meghan and Williams met way back in 2010, and their friendship has only continued to blossom.
And yet, she ended her tennis career with a bang in spite of all she had to endure.
Like Williams, Meghan is also a tenacious and resilient person.
Let’s take a look at how it all began.
Williams approached Meghan and introduced herself, and, well, the rest is history.
Naturally, she was just a bit starstruck when she spotted Williams.
“I show up [at the Super Bowl] and I see you walking toward someone.
I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, who is Serena Williams going to talk to?'”
Meghan recalled during theepisode.
The two women hit it off instantly and continued to meet up after their first encounter.
Markle would continue to show up to cheer on her friend in the years to come.
Ever the loyal pal, Meghan also watched Williams at Wimbledon in 2019.
“I’ve been sewing my whole life.
“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,” she wrote.
In 2019, Meghan launched a capsule clothing collection in support of the Smart Works charity.
“I don’t really think I’m a baby person.
Not yet,” she said.
“That’s something I have to work on.
I’m so used to me-me-me, taking care of my health, my body, my career.
I always ask, ‘Am I going to be good enough?'”
Many moms-to-be could probably relate to Williams’ worries.
“She will be an amazing mom.
The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity,” Meghan said.
I can’t wait for that!”
Talk about an adorable peek behind the curtain.
Can you imagine how epic karaoke night with Serena Williams and Meghan Markle must be?
And with her newfound fame came intense media scrutiny.
She was very open about the onslaught of media attention in a 2017 interview withVanity Fair.
“And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed.”
Of course, Serena Williams was one of her go-to people.
“I told her, ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan.
Williams knows what it’s like to deal with the ugly side of the media.
In 2018, she clapped back at sexist treatment from an umpire during the US Open.
Williams, ever the loyal friend, did her best to keep her plans to attend under wraps.
Of course, Williams did go.
“I’ve known her for so many years, and I’m so happy for her.”
“[W]e were literally watching history.
This was one of Meghan’s first official royal undertakings.
I could not be more excited about it and proud of you.
It’s beautiful diversity, inclusivity, coming together in grief or joy,” Williams wrote onTwitter.
In a 2018 chat withPeople, Williams said she admired how well Meghan seemed to be handling pregnancy.
“I’m like, ‘How are you?’
and she’s like, ‘No, how are you?’
Williams told the outlet.
But that’s always been her.”
As for the whole experience of becoming a mom, Williams had some pretty sound advice as well.
“It’s so crazy, I totally changed, and it literally is like a switch.
And so, I say that, ‘It will come.'”
“I was like, ‘Meghan, thanks!’
And she was like, ‘Why are you thanking me?
We’re friends!'”
“It’s been fun creating them,” she said.
We bet Meghan loves wearing them too.
“Because she’s one of my best friends,” Williams toldUs Weekly.
This ethos was also inspired by Meghan.
“It’s bringing those two together.
Who said you’re free to’t be both?”
Meghan sure seems to be a fitting muse.
Fortunately, she has friends like Serena Williams in her corner.
In 2019, the tennis star helped put together a surprise baby shower for the Duchess of Sussex.
“I’m a perfectionist, so I’m like, ‘Let’s make it perfect.’
It’s been a lot the last few days,” Williams told Business of Fashion in 2019.
I don’t think I understood that there was no intimate moment that one could have.”
The Daily Mail’s Katie Hind first broke the news of Williams’ visit.
Ever the loyal friend, Williams didn’t say anything about the visit or Archie on social media.
No photos of the new prince or his family were posted to any of Williams’ accounts.
She did, however, post a picture of herself posing in a fancy stateroom onInstagram.
Hey, not a bad way to promote some clothes from her fashion line.
When told that she appears to have it all together, Williams replied, “I totally do not.
I’m a mess.
I just put on some concealer and I’m here.
I’m pretending that everything’s fine.”
“Get through the first three months, four months, and then we can talk.”
“She couldn’t be a better friend to me.
Speaking toAccess Hollywoodin 2019, Williams gushed about Meghan’s unwavering support.
“I probably couldn’t have done that,” Williams said.
“I just really think she’s literally the strongest person I know,” Williams said.
That’s a true friend, indeed.
What’s more, she also looks like a total bada** in the process.
She brought a similar energy to Naomi Campbell’s “No Filter with Naomi” in 2020.
Historian Ruth Dudley Edwards, for instance, toldExpressat the time that Meghan’s allegations simply weren’t true.
Pity about Harry,” Edwards told the outlet.
“We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism,” Williams wrote.
Turns out, their shared sense of humor has been a crucial part of their bond.
“I think you’re funny!”
Meghan told Williams during the episode.
But I mean, most of our time chatting is just laughing."
The two also spoke about ambition and the unfortunate stigma that comes with being a driven woman.
“You made pregnancy look so sexy, I just waddled around,” Meghan said.
“I was the annoying one.
You were the one under a lot of stress,” Williams said.
Royal writer Angela Levin took things a step further and claimed that Williams and Meghan had grown apart.
