Tennis legend Serena Williams marked her 44th birthday on Friday, receiving warm wishes from around the world. Among the many messages and surprises, one stood out — a thoughtful gift from her longtime friend Meghan Markle.
Serena shared a clip on Instagram Stories showing herself unboxing a package from As Ever, Meghan’s lifestyle brand. Inside was a bottle of Napa Valley Rosé. Serena tagged both Meghan and the brand in her post, and Meghan later reshared the video to her own Stories.
The two women’s friendship goes back over a decade. They first met at the 2010 Super Bowl and grew closer after teaming up for the 2014 DirecTV Beach Bowl, a celebrity charity flag football game. Meghan later revealed on her former blog, The Tig, that the event was when they truly “hit it off,” bonding over laughter, casual chats, and shared interests.
Over the years, they’ve continued to support one another. Meghan often attended Serena’s matches, while Serena backed Meghan’s public ventures. Serena even hosted Meghan’s baby shower in New York in 2019, and in return, she was a guest at the Duchess’s royal wedding the year before.
Speaking after the 2019 Wimbledon final, Serena praised Meghan as “a great friend and a great person… always positive, no matter what.” Meghan has also described Serena as a confidante she could rely on during her travels.
Beyond their shared love for fashion and hot sauce, both women have connected over their drive and ambition, forging a bond that has remained strong over the years.
