In his new biography Serena: A Graphic Biography of the Greatest Tennis Champion, author Mark Hodgkinson says the tennis champion advised the Duchess of Sussex on how to handle racism, press coverage and motherhood.
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The tome explains how Meghan’s long-time friend became a great source of comfort, particularly when the former Suits star began her relationship with Prince Harry.
Perhaps referring to the ever-increasing press intrusion the royal couple face, Hodgkinson says Serena told Meghan – who is mum to four-month-old son, Archie - to “stop being so nice.”
The tennis star also revealed that she and Meghan relied heavily on each other after she gave birth to her little girl Alexis Olympia, with whom she shares with her Reddit founder husband, Alexis Ohanian.
Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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“We have known each other for a long time, but we really are relying on each other a lot recently,” Serena explained, before revealing how proud she was watching Meghan marry Prince Harry in May 2018.
“It was really exciting to see so much African-American culture in the wedding and I was really happy that Meghan wanted to incorporate that into it.”
“It was just a whole cultural shift and change. It was seeing how far African-Americans have come.
“I thought it was an incredibly inspiring and beautiful and really motivating thing. I was so proud of her and so happy for her.”