Serena's Royal Wedding Invite: What's The Real Reason?

Serena Williams, the tennis superstar, was invited to the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry because she is good friends with Meghan Markle. The pair first met in 2010 during a Super Bowl party and have since formed a close connection, supporting each other through thick and thin and bonding over life spent in the limelight. Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, were among the A-list celebrities who attended the royal wedding.

Serena Williams and Meghan Markle's friendship

Markle sought Williams' advice when she began dating Prince Harry and the unrelenting attention of the paparazzi intensified. Williams advised her friend to "be herself" and "not hide". The two have continued to rely on each other for support and advice about coping with intense media scrutiny.

Williams attended Markle's wedding to Prince Harry at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018, wearing a pink Versace dress and Bulgari jewellery. The tennis star shared live Instagram updates of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, getting ready for the event. Williams also attended the evening reception, changing into a Pierpaolo Piccioli black and floral gown, which she paired with a pair of comfortable Valentino trainers.

Williams' Versace dress

Serena Williams attended the 2018 royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wearing a head-to-toe blush ensemble, including a curve-hugging, asymmetrical, pink Versace dress. She paired the dress with matching earrings, a Bulgari necklace, and a pink hat. Williams also wore long braids and Valentino trainers, which she later revealed she often wears under her evening gowns for comfort.

Williams' outfit was not the only Versace piece she has worn to a wedding. In 2017, she wore a white strapless Versace dress to her own wedding reception. The dress featured lace and feathers throughout the bodice, and was the result of 1,500 hours of work by designer Donatella Versace and her team.

Williams' Instagram posts

Serena Williams, the tennis superstar, shared her excitement about her friend's wedding on Instagram. She posted several Instagram stories, documenting her preparations for the big day. In one of the posts, she said, "So my friend is getting married today, and I’m up super early. I’ve known her for so many years, and I’m so happy for her." She also shared sneak peeks of her outfit, including a blush pink Versace dress, matching pink hat, Bulgari necklace, and long braids. Williams even poked fun at her husband, Alexis Ohanian's, high-waisted trousers.

Williams and Markle first met in 2010 during a Super Bowl party in Florida and have been friends ever since. They crossed paths again at the Super Bowl in 2014, playing on the same team in a flag football match. When Markle started dating Prince Harry, she sought Williams' advice on dealing with the paparazzi. Williams advised her to "be herself" and "not hide." The two have supported each other through the challenges of being in the public eye, regularly texting each other for advice.

Williams also shared a photo of her full wedding look on Instagram, without a caption, letting the stunning outfit speak for itself. The post showed her wearing a pink Versace wrap dress, pink pumps, and a matching fascinator, accessorised with Bulgari jewellery.

For the evening reception, Williams changed into a Pierpaolo Piccioli black and floral gown, paired with a comfortable pair of Valentino trainers. She shared this outfit choice with her Instagram followers as well, writing, "Little known fact: I often wear sneakers under my evening gown. These @maisonvalentino @pppiccioli gave to me last min. I told him be careful I tend to be comfy for long nights."

Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian

Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, is a tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Reddit. Ohanian was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1983 to immigrant parents—a German mother and an Armenian father whose parents were refugees. He grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and graduated from Howard High School in 2001. He then went on to the University of Virginia, where he met Steve Huffman, with whom he would later co-found Reddit.

Ohanian and Williams first met in Rome in 2015 while staying at the same hotel. Williams was in town for the Italian Open, and Ohanian was there for the Festival of Media Global conference. They met by chance while sitting at adjacent tables during breakfast. Williams recounted how Ohanian sat down at the table next to her and her friends, and despite their attempts to get him to move, he stayed put. Williams eventually invited him to join them, and they hit it off. They went on their first date in Paris, and the rest is history.

Ohanian proposed to Williams in December 2016 at the same hotel in Rome where they first met. In April 2017, Williams accidentally revealed her pregnancy via Snapchat, and in September of that year, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. Two months later, in November 2017, the pair tied the knot in New Orleans. They expanded their family again in August 2023 with the birth of their second daughter, Adira River.

Ohanian has been a constant source of support for Williams, often cheering her on from the stands at her tennis matches. He has also used his platform to advocate for paid paternity leave, sharing his own experience of taking 16 weeks off after the birth of his first child. In addition, Ohanian has expressed that he is proud to be known as "Serena's husband" or "Olympia's dad", demonstrating his dedication to his family.

Williams' jewellery

Serena Williams attended the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018. Williams and Markle have been friends since they met at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami, and Williams has supported Markle through the challenges of being in the public eye.

For the royal wedding, Williams wore a blush pink or asymmetrical pink Versace wrap dress, a Bulgari necklace, and a matching pink hat and fascinator. She completed her look with long braids and pink pumps.

Williams's jewellery was a Bulgari necklace from the heritage collection. The necklace featured a stunning design that complemented her elegant blush pink dress. The heritage collection by Bulgari is known for its timeless and sophisticated pieces, and the necklace added a touch of royalty to Williams's ensemble. Unfortunately, I could not find more details about the necklace.

Williams also wore a pair of comfortable Valentino trainers with an evening gown for the reception. She shared her live Instagram updates, giving fans sneak peeks of her outfit and poking fun at her husband's high-waisted trousers.

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