Inside Meghan Markle and Serena Williams’ 8-year friendship, from the duchess’ new Archetypes podcast featuring the tennis legend as its first guest, to how they met at the Super Bowl …

Aug 28 , 2022

Serena Williams and Meghan Markle have been firm friends for years ... but just how did it all begin? Photos: Reuters, @serenawilliams/Instagram

The Duchess of Sussex has cheered Williams on at the US Open, the Australian Open and Wimbledon … even once flying out to watch her match only months after having Archie

The famous athlete attended Markle’s royal wedding to Prince Harry, of course, and supported her through bad press and that bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview

Serena Williams and Meghan Markle, the greatest tennis player of all time and the first American to marry into the royal family in decades … and loyal friends since 2014.

During the first episode of Markle’s Archetypes podcast, she called Williams “my girl” and shared how they have developed such a sweet, yet private, connection.

Here’s how their friendship developed over the past eight years …

1. 2010: Meeting at the Super Bowl in Miami

Serena Williams and Meghan Markle first met at Super Bowl in 2010. Photos: @serenawilliams, @meghan_markle_page/Instagram

Markle wrote on her now-defunct blog The Tig that the two crossed paths for the first time in Miami during the 2010 Super Bowl. But it would take a few more years for their friendship to blossom.

2. February 2014: Becoming friends while playing in the DirecTV Beach Bowl

Meghan Markle and Serena Williams participate in the DirecTV Beach Bowl at Pier 40 in February 2014, in New York City. Photo: Getty Images for DirecTV

Markle, who was then starring on Suits, and Williams crossed paths again at the event, playing flag football together at a celebrity game, and hit it off immediately. “We were chatting about all the good old fashioned girlie stuff. So began our friendship,” Markle would write later on The Tig.

3. September 2014: Markle congratulates Williams on Twitter for winning the US Open

Meghan Markle and Serena Williams hugging at the 2014 US Open. Photo: @meghanmarkle

“She did it! @serenawilliams ! #bravo #friends #usopen,” Markle tweeted after Williams won the 2014 US Open.