Serena Williams and Meghan Markle share a bond fit for friendship royalty! The tennis icon and the Duchess of Sussex first crossed paths at the Super Bowl in 2010. However, it wasn’t until their reunion in 2014 that they instantly have remained close ever since.

Their friendship has been characterized by unwavering support despite their demanding schedules. Whether it’s Markle traveling to cheer on Williams at her tennis tournaments or Williams attending Markle’s royal wedding to Prince Harry, they always make time to uplift each other.

“We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations – our endless ambition,” Markle once shared on her blog The Tig.

In addition to their consistent presence for one another, they publicly commend each other and offer guidance on navigating the pressures of their respective industries and motherhood.

Here’s a timeline chronicling the decade-long friendship between Williams and Markle.

Following their initial meeting, Meghan and Serena crossed paths again at the 2014 Super Bowl in New York and instantly connected.

Reflecting on their encounter during the premiere episode of her podcast Archetypes, which featured an interview with Williams, the duchess reminisced about their interaction.

“I arrived and saw you approaching someone,” Meghan recounted to her friend. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, who is Serena Williams going to converse with?’ When I glanced back and then turned around, you were standing right in front of me… That’s when our friendship took off at lightning speed.”

The following day, both Meghan and Serena participated in DirecTV’s Celebrity Beach Bowl. While they competed against former NFL pros for the prize, they also enjoyed some downtime on the sidelines.

“We immediately clicked,” Meghan shared on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig. “We took photos, laughed during the flag football game we both played in, and chatted… Not about tennis or acting, but about all the classic girly topics.”

In September 2016, Williams collaborated with HSN to debut her own fashion line, the fall Signature Statement Collection, at New York Fashion Week. Markle attended the event to show her support, snapping a photo with the tennis icon. Although the Duchess later deleted the Instagram post, she captioned the picture with heartfelt words: “My eyes are closed but my heart is so open! So proud of your new collection @serenawilliams. Happy I could be there to support you