Meghan Markle's closest friends in her inner circle - from university friends to A-list stars

Tennis pro Serena Williams first crossed paths with Meghan back in 2014 at a charity football match. "We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing and chatting—not about tennis or acting, but about good old-fashioned girly stuff. So began our friendship…

"She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was travelling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with a couple of weeks ago in Toronto," Meghan previously wrote on her now-defunct lifestyle website The Tig.

Serena used to be one of Meghan's neighbours when the Sussexes were briefly based in LA before moving to Montecito; the friends both lived in the same gated community in the exclusive Beverly Hills 90210 postcode. 

The sports star also appeared in the Netflix docuseries and spoke about Meghan and Harry's new life in the US.

"They are creating their own family. And friends can be family too," she said. “They can start something fresh and new and hope that one day that family on both ends will be able to understand that this is truly love."

And ahead of the With Love, Meghan show launch, the Duchess shared a cute photo of daughter Lilibet playing Candy Land with Serena. 

Abigail Spencer starred with Meghan on Suits, but they were friends long before the hit TV show. "I saw her and was like, 'Who is this gorgeous girl?' She was just so stunning and there was just something about her, and that's how we met," Abigail previously told ET.

The actress was also a guest at the royal wedding and helped throw Meghan her New York baby shower. She was even spotted hiking with Meghan and Harry near Vancouver Island during their six-week Christmas break in 2019.

Abigail appeared in Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary in 2022, and shared her surprise at the way Meghan was written about, and explained how she banded together with a group of friends to shift the "narrative" in a more positive direction. 

"I said we have to turn this narrative around. It will just be her closest friends coming together to talk about the person who she really is in the middle of this [expletive] storm," she shared. 

The pair hit it off before starring in Suits together and Abigail was among the guests at Harry and Meghan's royal wedding 2018, as well as Meghan's baby shower.

Speaking to ET in 2018, Abigail revealed how she first met Meghan during an audition over a decade ago. Talking about their extremely close bond, she said: "We were born on the same day, hours apart, in the same year... she's a trusted friend and one of the most glorious people I have ever met."

The actress also enjoyed Beyonce's Renaissance show with Meghan, Harry and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland in Los Angeles in September 2023. 

She is also one of the guests to star in With Love, Meghan. 

Meghan and fellow actress Katharine grew up and performed in musicals together when they were kids. Katharine and her music producer husband David Foster were pictured joining Harry and Meghan at Lucky's Steakhouse in Montecito in October 2020.

Katharine has previously spoken about her husband's relationship with Harry revealing they were "like father and son". In an interview with Access Hollywood, she said: "My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry. They're like, they're so cute. They're like father and son." 

The trio go way back having all met at Northwestern University, and they have all been there for each other for some of the biggest moments in each other's lives.

Meghan was maid of honour at TV producer Lindsay's wedding, while lobbyist Genevieve helped to organise the Duchess' baby shower in New York in 2019.

The three friends enjoyed a day out in Wimbledon just months after Meghan welcomed baby Archie.

Lindsay also appeared in Harry and Meghan's Netflix docuseries, where she spoke about Meghan's last "single girl summer" and the trips that they had taken together before the Suits star met Prince Harry.

Meghan has been friends with the True Blood star for over 15 years and Janina was even the person who took the photo used by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their 2019 Christmas card.

Like Lindsay, Janina has also defended Meghan, once posting: "I have known Meghan for 17 years. Here's what she is: kind, strong, open. Here's what she's not: 'a bully.' ANY of us who know her, feel the same thing from her broken silence: Relief."

Entrepreneur Kadi Lee, who is the co-founder of Highbrow Hippie with Myka Harris, is Meghan's longtime hair colourist.

Last November, Meghan invested in Highbrow Hippie, a new haircare line by her BFF and showed her support by attending the launch party at  Gjelina on Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

Friends for over a decade, having been introduced by the Duchess' ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, Kelly has previously said of Meghan that she's "an incredible friend and mother". Harry and Meghan have supported Kelly and her husband Julian through the unexpected loss of their son George in 2022. The Duchess has shown her support for the charity co-founded by Kelly - Alliance of Moms, which helps pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system. The pair also attended the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Gala 2024 together in October 2024.