They've been friends since 2014, but some royal fans have questioned the Duchess of Sussex's closeness to Serena Williams after the tennis star's latest Instagram story.
Serena, 44, was among the lucky few to receive a PR parcel filled with Meghan's latest As Ever Mother's Day edit over the weekend, which included candles inspired by her children and a £42 box of chocolates.
But instead of posting a glowing product shot, the athlete shared a bizarre attempt at promotion, showing the chocolates displaced and partially crushed in the box, or as she put it, 'botched' - before adding that she 'doesn't like chocolate'.
'Anyway, the chocolate was beautiful,' she said, adding, 'It was delicious. I don't like chocolate, but I have been killing them. So good.'
Commenting on Meghan's calligraphy, she said: 'Her penmanship has always been amazing from the 100 years I seem to have known her.'
And when looking at the No. 506 candle, which features scents of Ginger, Cashmere and Neroli, Serena said she 'can't pronounce' the last ingredient - and it was much the same for the second candle, which included Santal - 'another word I can't pronounce'.
She concluded the post by saying, presumably directed at Meghan: 'I love candles, thank you, I love you.'
Despite her attempt, fans branded the post 'poorly done', with one writing: 'I'm not sure if Serena just tossed the box around before filming, but the end result felt like a very poorly done promotion. The Duchess of Sussex's friendship with Serena Williams has been questioned after the tennis star's latest Instagram post (pictured together in California in 2024)'
'It actually makes you wonder- why would you make your friend's product look bad while trying to promote it?' A second wrote: 'Serena has been Markled'. A third joked: 'I don't like chocolate... It was delicious... Uhhhhhh.'
A fourth wrote: 'What a beautiful box...and inside a complete mess.' Another disagreed, saying: 'She did say she liked Meghan's penmanship, and that she doesn't like chocolate, but she had devoured those ones. I don't think it was intentional.'
The Duchess appears to be taking a different stance at promoting her latest collection - and sending it to a select few, unlike when she released her first As Ever jam collection, and sent it to numerous A-listers.
While Meghan's A-list friends, including Kris Jenner, Chrissy Teigen and Zoe Saldana, received the Duchess's PR parcels the first time around, it seems a select few with smaller followings are receiving the 'Mother's Day Edit'.
Among those who got the latest parcel is Meghan's best friend, Kelly McKee Zajfen, who hailed the Duchess as the 'best mama' to her 43,000 followers. Meghan's close friend and Pilates instructor, Heather Dorak, who has 12,000 followers, and Today show editor, Adrianna Barrionuevo Brach, who has almost 7,000 followers, also received a parcel. The As Ever chocolates were smashed and displaced when Serena showed them to her 18 million followers.
A select number of medium-level American influencers, including Carly (@mycityapartment), who has more than 460,000 followers, and Kristina Zias, with nearly 350,000 followers on Instagram, were also on the list.
The marketing materials for the two candles mention Archie and Lilibet's royal titles, as Meghan unveiled Signature Candle No. 506, named after her son's birthdate of May 6, and Signature Candle No. 604, in homage to Princess Lilibet's June 4 birthday.
Carly shared a photo of the £115 box from As Ever, including gourmet chocolates, on her Instagram Stories and tagged Meghan's lifestyle brand. The box included a handwritten letter from Meghan, who said: 'I developed the scents over the last year so that every note melded together to take me right back to a special memory with them.'
'I can light the candle, close my eyes and I'm right there,' Meghan's message read. 'The memorable moments of motherhood.' The box also included chocolates from Los Angeles brand Compartes, as Meghan wrote 'Enjoy every bite'.
'Thank you for welcoming As Ever into your home, and for allowing us to not just be a part of your moments, but to be part of your memories,' the letter read.
The scented candle for Prince Archie features 'ginger, neroli, and cashmere' in what appears to be a nod to her six-year-old son's red hair, and promises to bring a 'warm, comforting scent' for a 'soft familiar ease into the room'. Meanwhile, the candle inspired by her daughter Lilibet, four, is made with 'amber, water lily and santal', encompassing a 'light, floral scent' which will bring 'a sense of brightness and openness to the home'.
The products are part of As Ever's tilt towards more 'expanded fragrance and apothecary offerings', Meghan told Town & Country. 'The goal for As Ever has always been finding ways we can bring beauty and ease to your life – as a host, as a guest, as a friend, as a mom,' she said. 'In whatever way you show up, I want As Ever to make it feel special. It began with a pot of jam, and a collection for your kitchen and now we are excited that the collection will soon expand into other parts of your home. It's a very special time and I'm proud of what we are creating.'
