Alexander Gilkes, a millionaire art dealer and close friend of both Prince William and Prince Harry, has been engaged to tennis legend Maria Sharapova since December 2020. The couple, who began dating in 2018, welcomed their son Theodore in July 2022, prompting them to put their wedding plans on hold.
Royal Connections to Wimbledon
Prince William is expected to appear in the Royal Box at Wimbledon this summer, continuing the Royal Family's longstanding association with the tournament. The late Queen Elizabeth II became a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in 1952, a role now held by the Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales regularly attends with his wife and children.
Alexander Gilkes: From Eton to Art World
Gilkes met Prince William while both were students at Eton College. He later co-founded the online auction house Paddle8 in 2011, becoming a well-known art dealer. Before his relationship with Sharapova, Gilkes was married to fashion designer Misha Nonoo, a mutual friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who is rumored to have introduced the couple.
Gilkes was a guest at William and Kate's wedding in 2011 and remains close to Princess Eugenie, whom he reportedly calls "Eug." After graduating from university, he worked at Paddle8 for two years.
Engagement and Family
Sharapova announced the engagement on Instagram with a selfie and the message: "I said yes from the first day we met. This was our little secret, wasn't it." Gilkes responded: "Thank you for making me a very, very happy boy. I look forward to a lifetime of loving you and learning from you."
In a 2024 interview with People Magazine, Sharapova said they were "not in a rush" to marry and would likely do so "in the next couple of years." She added: "We were going to have a big wedding, and then I got pregnant, and so we haven't scheduled a new wedding yet."
