Doubt has been cast over Serena Williams and the Duchess of Sussex’s friendship in recent weeks, and now speculation amongst fans has reached fever pitch after the tennis star appeared at the Met Gala with Emma Thynn and Edward Enninful.
The trio proved just how close they are as they posed up a storm multiple times at the most dazzling night in the fashion calendar, but their cosy appearance at the New York event left fans further questioning Serena’s relationship with the Duchess, 44.
Following the tennis star’s ‘disastrous’ promotion for Meghan’s As Ever products on Instagram, she’s now cosying up to ex-Vogue editor Edward, 54, who has drifted apart amid rumours of a rift.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s wife has long been accused of copying Emma, 40, the Marchioness of Bath, who also has a lifestyle brand.
But Serena clearly wasn’t going to let that impact her friendship with the pair, with the A-lister, who stunned in a silver metallic gown, even getting ready with Emma before the gala.
‘It’s MET Day!! My girl @emmathynn came to get ready with me!!’ the athlete wrote on Instagram when sharing a clip of the duo dancing around their hotel room in silk dressing gowns.
Later that night, Emma oozed glamour in a sleeveless dress, featuring statement floral and lace detailing, while Edward, who’s since founded a new magazine, EE72, appeared smart in a suit.
The duo posed on the world-renowned steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art alongside Serena, before also joining the former tennis player’s sister, and co-chair of the event, Venus Williams inside the gala for a collection of photos.
Doubt has been cast over Serena Williams and the Duchess of Sussex’s friendship in recent weeks, and now speculation amongst fans has reached fever pitch after the tennis star appeared at the Met Gala with Emma Thynn and Edward Enninful (pictured)
Their appearance together came after Serena stepped out with the marchioness on Saturday night at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s star-studded pre-Met Gala celebration in New York.
Emma appeared pretty in pink as she sported a shimmering mini dress, teamed with a coordinating fur coat for the event.
Looking effortlessly elegant, the marchioness was pictured walking arm-in-arm with Serena, who put on an equally leggy display in a grey mini frock with ruched detailing.
The duo were joined by the former tennis player’s husband Alexis Ohanian, whom she tied the knot with in 2017.
Serena and Emma are thought to be close friends. They’ve holidayed together in Spain and the marchioness previously appeared on the A-lister’s podcast Stockton Street.
Meghan has yet to attend the Met Gala, and isn’t thought to have been invited this year, despite Serena’s sister Venus being a co-chair at the 2026 event.
In September 2025, Edward spectacularly failed to dispel rumours of a rift with Meghan after he hinted that he won’t work with her again.
The ex-Vogue editor once described the former Suits actress as a ‘bi-racial powerhouse’ and an ‘ultimate force for change’.
The duo posed on the world-renowned steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art alongside Serena, before also joining the former tennis player’s sister, and co-chair of the event, Venus Williams inside the gala for a collection of photos (pictured)
The trio proved just how close they are to one another as they posed up a storm multiple times at the most dazzling night in the fashion calendar
Emma oozed glamour in a sleeveless dress, featuring statement floral and lace detailing, while Edward, who’s since founded a new magazine, EE72, appeared smart in a suit
But six years on Edward has set up a new magazine and when asked if it will feature the duchess on the cover he said: ‘I feel like I have done it.’
Instead he launched the £15 ($20) publication with the help of a host of his other A-list friends including Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow.
And in comments that throw an intriguing new light on his relationship with Meghan, he said he would happily feature King Charles and Queen Camilla because ‘they care about the same things I do’.
In an interview with The Times, Edward was asked about his vast group of celebrity friends and how rarely he falls out with people.
But he apparently ‘paused’ when he was asked about the duchess being one of the few exceptions after she guest-edited the September 2019 edition of Vogue.
Asked if she would be his cover star again he said: ‘Meghan and I had a great moment with the issue we did, but I feel like I have done it and I wouldn’t necessarily repeat myself.’
He worked alongside the duchess when she guest-edited the September 2019 issue of Vogue. But there was apparently a row three years later over another planned Vogue feature about the duke and duchess’s charitable work.
Meghan described herself and Edward, who was appointed Global Ambassador for King Charles’s youth-focused charity, the Prince’s Trust (now the King’s Trust) in October 2021, as ‘like-minded thinkers’ who enjoyed ‘philosophising’ over steaming cups of mint tea.
Their appearance together (pictured on Monday night) came after Serena stepped out with the marchioness on Saturday night at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s star-studded pre-Met Gala celebration in New York
Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, Venus Williams and Serena Williams attend the 2026 Met Gala
In his editor’s letter he described Meghan as being ‘the real deal – and an ultimate force for change’. But they have apparently ‘drifted’ apart.
One source claimed this happened when the planned Vogue feature in 2022 on the Sussexes’ philanthropy was abruptly pulled and scrapped completely.
Meghan allegedly wanted it to be the cover story and Edward did not ‘meet those expectations’.
Another insider instead put the change in closeness between them purely down to distance after she emigrated back to the US from London in 2020.
Meanwhile, some fans have long accused Meghan of copying the marchioness, who also has a lifestyle programme, and like the duchess, produces homemade jam from her Longleat estate.
Comparisons between Emma and Meghan were also drawn in the latest season of reality TV show, Ladies Of London: The New Reign.
In the opening scenes, released in March, designer Lottie Kane brought up the duchess while introducing the marchioness to viewers.
‘She is the first black woman to be married into an aristocratic family, and I think Meghan Markle tries to claim that, but it was actually Emma,’ she said.
In September 2025, Edward failed to dispel rumours that he has fallen out with the Duchess of Sussex, who he previously called a powerhouse and icon
Edward is a fan of King Charles (seen together at The Sovereign’s Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2024). He was appointed Global Ambassador of the Prince’s Trust (now the King’s Trust)
‘I’m of mixed heritage, half-Nigerian, half-English,’ added Emma, who became the Marchioness of Bath after her husband Ceawlin Thynn’s father, Alexander Thynn, died in 2020.
‘The press commented heavily on the fact that I was going to become the first woman of colour to hold this title, and I acknowledge the fact that… the only woman of colour in this position is me, still to this day,’ she continued.
Meanwhile, Emma also attended the King’s Trust Gala in New York, alongside the Meghan’s former bestie Edward Enninful, greeting King Charles on his US tour.
Following the launch of the duchess’ Netflix series in 2025, ‘With Love, Meghan’, eagle-eyed viewers spotted a series of similarities to a YouTube cooking show, ‘Emma’s Kitchen’, hosted by the marchioness.
The Celebrity MasterChef contestant – formally known as Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath – posts videos of her creations after launching the brand in 2015 using the backdrop of the original kitchens within Longleat House.
One observer tweeted similar still images from each show, writing: ‘Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, has had a cooking programme at Longleat estate for nine years!’
Another said: ‘Why is Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex trying to channel Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath? TBH, Emma seems more natural while Meghan often seems like she’s acting from a script. I think Meghan should focus strictly on charity work.’
A third added: ‘This woman has no original idea! This is a copy of Emma’s Kitchen!’ And a fourth tweeted: ‘Very much like Emma’s Kitchen on YouTube.’
The Marchioness of Bath and Serena Williams are seen in Times Square on May 2, 2026 in New York City
Fan-tastic: Emma Weymouth (right) appears alongside her tennis star pal, Serena Williams in Spain
When previously asked by the Daily Mail’s Harriet Kean what she thought of claims Meghan had copied her, Emma raised her eyebrow and said: ‘No comment.’
In an interview with this paper in 2018, Emma was questioned whether she was ‘bored with the comparisons to the new Duchess of Sussex?’
The marchioness said: ‘I wouldn’t presume to compare myself to Meghan, but she too broke the mould by being the first black woman to marry into the Royal Family.
‘I want to emphasise how positively this has been welcomed: she has been embraced by the Royal Family and by Britain.’
Serena and Emma’s big night out comes after royal fans questioned the duchess’s closeness to the star after her ‘disastrous’ As Ever promotion on Instagram.
The former tennis player was among the lucky few to receive a PR parcel filled with Meghan’s Mother’s Day edit last month, which included candles inspired by her children and a £42 box of chocolates.
But instead of posting a glowing, high-effort product shot, the athlete shared a bizarre, ‘casual’ attempt at promotion, showing the chocolates displaced and partially crushed in the box, or as she put it, ‘botched’ – before adding that she ‘doesn’t like chocolate’.
The post was worlds away from the usual snaps shared by celebrities to promote their friends’ businesses – and when Meghan sent round her first PR packages, Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen shared a stunning setup to showcase the products.
Meghan with actress Mindy Kaling in the trailer for ‘With Love, Meghan’
Some viewers compared scenes from Meghan’s Netflix series to those in the YouTube cooking show ‘Emma’s Kitchen’ hosted by Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath (above)
Serena’s post appeared to involve a much lower effort, with fans branding the post ‘poorly done’. One wrote: ‘I’m not sure if Serena just tossed the box around before filming, but the end result felt like a very poorly done promotion.’
In the clip, Serena said as she showcased the crushed treats: ‘Anyway, the chocolate was beautiful. It was delicious. I don’t like chocolate, but I have been killing them. So good.’
Commenting on Meghan’s calligraphy, she said: ‘Her penmanship has always been amazing from the 100 years I seem to have known her.’
And when looking at the No.506 candle, which features scents of Ginger, Cashmere and Neroli, Serena said she ‘can’t pronounce’ the last ingredient – and it was much the same for the second candle, which included Santal – ‘another word I can’t pronounce’.
She concluded the post by saying, presumably directed at Meghan: ‘I love candles, thank you, I love you.’
One commenter wrote: ‘It actually makes you wonder – why would you make your friend’s product look bad while trying to promote it?’
A second wrote: ‘Serena has been Markled.’ A third joked: ‘I don’t like chocolate… It was delicious… Uhhhhhh.’
A fourth wrote: ‘What a beautiful box…and inside a complete mess.’
The Duchess of Sussex’s friendship with Serena Williams has been questioned after the tennis star’s Instagram post (pictured together in California in 2024)
The As Ever chocolates were smashed and displaced when Serena showed them to her 18 million followers
Another disagreed, saying: ‘She did say she liked Meghan’s penmanship, and that she doesn’t like chocolate, but she had devoured those ones. I don’t think it was intentional.’
Meghan met Serena briefly in 2010, and again in 2014, explaining on her now defunct blog The Tig that the pair ‘hit it off immediately’.
The duchess invited the sportswoman to her wedding to Prince Harry and her star-studded baby shower when pregnant with Archie in New York City in February 2019.
Serena previously advised Meghan to ‘stop being so nice’ and also praised her ‘class and poise’ in the famous Oprah interview.
According to Mark Hodgkinson in Serena: A Graphic Biography Of The Greatest Tennis Champion, the women’s friendship quickly evolved through frequent phone calls and texts.
Hi! I’m Richard Eden, Diary Editor and author of the Palace Confidential newsletter.
I have spent hours looking into what Meghan Markle’s relationship with the Queen was really like. And while I can tell you Meghan was welcomed with open arms, my sources have told me the Queen was very quickly concerned. Sign up here to read what I discovered
After becoming Prince Harry’s girlfriend and then a duchess, Meghan leaned on Serena for mentoring on how to handle the paparazzi and the international media.
Serena advised her to ‘stop being so nice’, according to the author.
And when Meghan learned she was pregnant shortly after Serena’s little girl was born, she offered her parenting advice.
In 2021, Williams revealed: ‘We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently.’
She added that watching Meghan marry Prince Harry in May 2018 was particularly special.
Serena said: ‘It was really exciting to see so much African-American culture in the wedding and I was really happy that Meghan wanted to incorporate that into it. It was just a whole cultural shift and change.
‘It was seeing how far African-Americans have come. I thought it was an incredibly inspiring and beautiful and really motivating thing. I was so proud of her and so happy for her.’
Meanwhile, in 2021, Serena praised Meghan, saying she is the ‘epitome of class and strength’ following her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
She spoke to Behnaz Ghahramani, the chief marketing officer at Stuart Weitzman, for the debut episode of the brand’s Shine Series, where she discussed her long-term friendship with the duchess.
She described Meghan as ‘the strongest person I know’.
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