The News
Serena Williams Excludes Meghan Markle from Retirement Party Guest List
Serena Williams recently made headlines by barring Meghan Markle from her retirement party guest list and even going as far as deleting her phone number.
The tennis superstar addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding her friendship with the Duchess of Sussex in an exclusive interview with Vogue for their September issue cover story.
In the interview, Williams sought to clarify her relationship with Meghan, countering claims made in a recent biography that alleged she had denied being friends with the former actress.
This revelation comes at a pivotal moment as Williams announced her intention to retire from professional tennis following this year's U.S. Open, scheduled to kick off on August 29.
The bond between Williams and Meghan has been under public scrutiny ever since Meghan's relationship with Prince Harry came to light in late 2016.
The duo's connection was further solidified during Meghan's visit to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in 2016, where she cheered on Williams from the stands.
Their friendship was also evident when Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, attended the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan in 2018.
Williams was seated prominently among other celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey, with a direct view of the royal family members.
In a video feature released by Vogue alongside her cover story, Williams reminisced about her iconic fashion moments, including the Versace dress she wore to Meghan and Harry's wedding.
This association between the two women was explored in a recent critical biography titled Revenge, Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors by Tom Bauer.
The biography made several explosive claims, such as Queen Elizabeth II expressing relief that Meghan would not be attending Prince Philip's funeral and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, making insensitive remarks about the couple's future children.
However, Buckingham Palace and representatives for Meghan and Harry have refrained from commenting on the book's contents.
One of the most startling claims in the biography was that Williams had distanced herself from Meghan, portraying their relationship as mere acquaintanceship rather than friendship.
This revelation contradicted earlier reports and added fuel to the ongoing speculation surrounding their bond.
In a separate development, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come under fire for allegedly orchestrating an intense campaign to sway American public opinion in their favor.
Royal expert Mr. Schiffer raised concerns about the couple's strategic efforts to win over young Americans by positioning themselves as advocates on key issues.
Schiffer highlighted the couple's meticulous approach in appealing to Gen Z and millennials, leveraging their soft power and influence to garner support.
He emphasized the calculated nature of their messaging and predicted their imminent plans to focus more on the American audience in the future.
As the controversy surrounding Serena Williams and Meghan Markle's friendship continues to unfold, and with Prince Harry and Meghan facing scrutiny over their public image strategy, the dynamics within these high-profile relationships remain under close observation.