Serena Williams has further fueled speculation about her friendship with Meghan Markle after stepping out with the Marchioness of Bath, Emma Thynn, at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's pre-Met Gala celebration in New York. The appearance comes on the heels of a controversial Instagram post where Serena promoted Meghan's As Ever brand in a lackluster manner, leading fans to question their bond.
Comparisons Between Meghan and the Marchioness
Emma Thynn, 40, has often been compared to Meghan Markle, as both are women of colour who married into aristocratic families. Emma became the first black woman to hold the title Marchioness of Bath after her husband Ceawlin Thynn inherited the title in 2020. In the reality show Ladies of London: The New Reign, designer Lottie Kane highlighted this, stating, '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.' Emma herself acknowledged the press attention, saying, 'The only woman of colour in this position is me, still to this day.'
Similarities in Lifestyle Content
Following the launch of Meghan's Netflix series With Love, Meghan in 2025, viewers noted striking similarities to Emma's YouTube cooking show Emma's Kitchen, which has been running since 2015. Social media users pointed out parallels, with one tweeting, 'Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, has had a cooking programme at Longleat estate for nine years!' Another commented, 'Why is Meghan Markle trying to channel Emma Thynn? Emma seems more natural while Meghan often seems like she's acting from a script.' When asked about the comparisons, Emma simply raised an eyebrow and said, 'No comment.'
Serena and Emma's Night Out
On Saturday night, Emma wore a shimmering pink mini dress with a coordinating fur coat, while Serena opted for a gray mini frock with ruched detailing. The duo walked arm-in-arm, joined by Serena's husband Alexis Ohanian. Serena and Emma are known to be close friends, having holidayed together in Spain, and Emma previously appeared on Serena's podcast Stockton Street. Notably, Meghan has not attended the Met Gala and is not believed to have been invited this year, despite Serena's sister Venus Williams serving as a co-chair.
Serena's Controversial As Ever Promotion
Last month, Serena received a PR parcel from Meghan's As Ever brand for Mother's Day, which included candles and a £42 box of chocolates. Instead of a polished promotion, Serena posted a video showing the chocolates crushed and displaced, admitting she 'doesn't like chocolate' but had eaten them anyway. She also struggled to pronounce ingredients like neroli and santal. Fans criticized the post as 'poorly done,' with one writing, 'Why would you make your friend's product look bad while trying to promote it?' Another joked, 'Serena has been Markled.'
A Longstanding Friendship
Despite recent doubts, Serena and Meghan's friendship dates back to 2010, with Serena attending Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry and her baby shower in New York. Serena has previously advised Meghan to 'stop being so nice' and praised her as 'the strongest person I know' after the Oprah interview. In 2021, Serena said, 'We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently.' The bond, however, appears to be under scrutiny following Serena's latest public appearances.
