Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, attended Wimbledon to support longtime friend Serena Williams, amidst speculation that the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, might also make an appearance during her reported European holiday. In 2019, Markle attended the Ladies' Singles Final at Wimbledon to support Williams, but fans have noted a cooling in their friendship since then.
Thynn, dressed in white, spoke to Hello about Williams's role as an inspirational mother, stating, "Serena said she did it for her daughters. I think that's the best thing in the world to show them how strong she is and how she is doing it with such joy and enthusiasm." She added, "She's brilliant, she's strong and she's doing all the things and just doing it with such grace as always."
Comparisons have often been drawn between Thynn and Markle, with both having lifestyle brands and producing homemade jam. Following the launch of Markle's Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" in 2025, viewers noted similarities to Thynn's YouTube cooking show "Emma's Kitchen," which has been active since 2015. Social media users have pointed out these resemblances, with some commenting that Markle "should focus strictly on charity work" and that Thynn appears "more natural."
When asked about claims that Markle had copied her, Thynn previously responded with "No comment." Similar comparisons were made on the reality TV show "Ladies Of London: The New Reign," where it was stated that Thynn was the "first black woman to be married into an aristocratic family," a distinction some felt Markle had tried to claim.
Thynn, who is of mixed heritage, became the Marchioness of Bath after her husband's father's death in 2020.
Meanwhile, questions have also arisen about Markle's friendship with Williams. During a promotion for Markle's brand "As Ever," Williams shared an Instagram post that some fans perceived as "botched." In the video, Williams showed partially crushed chocolates, stating she "doesn't like chocolate" but found them delicious, and struggled to pronounce ingredients in the accompanying candles.
This promotional effort differed from the more elaborate presentations by celebrities like Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen when promoting Markle's earlier products. Comments on social media ranged from "why would you make your friend's product look bad" to suggestions that Williams had been "Markled."
Further fueling speculation about the friendship, Williams appeared at the Met Gala in May with Thynn and Edward Enninful, posing for multiple photos together. Markle has not attended the Met Gala. Enninful, former editor of British Vogue, also recently cast doubt on future collaborations with Markle, stating that he felt he had "done it" regarding featuring her in his new publication.
Markle and Williams first met in 2010 and reconnected in 2014. Markle has spoken on her former blog, The Tig, about their immediate connection. Williams attended Markle's wedding to Prince Harry and her baby shower in 2019. In a 2021 interview, Williams described Markle as "the strongest person I know" and praised her "class and poise" following the interview with Oprah Winfrey.