As Wimbledon kicks off for another year, we're all eager to know when we'll catch a glimpse of the Royal Family gracing the stands. We often spot The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Duke of Kent at this much-anticipated annual event.
Several renowned tennis players have connections with the royals, from Rafael Nadal's tight-knit friendship with Princess of Wales to Serena Williams' close bond with The Duchess of Sussex. But there's another link between one of the world's most famous tennis stars and Prince William, thanks to her fiancé.
Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova has been dating Alexander Gilkes since 2018, and they got engaged on December 17, 2021. The couple shared in April 2021 that they were expecting their first child – he was born in July 2022.
This relationship puts Sharapova in the unique position of being the latest tennis player linked to the Royal Family, as her fiancé is a good friendof both Prince William and Prince Harry.
Alexander Mark Heming Gilkes, a London native born in July 1979, has carved out an enviable niche for himself within the art world, leveraging connections that trace back to his days at Eton College and later at the University of Bristol. Sharing his Eton years with none other than Prince William, Alexander has maintained a close bond with the future king, reports MyLondon.
Additionally, he's connected to Kate through his brother Charlie Gilkes, who once dated Pippa Middleton.
Gilkes' journey in the art scene led him to co-found the online auction platform Paddle8 in 2011, where he served as president until 2018. His Royal ties don't end there; Princess Eugenie is another connection, having worked at Paddle8 for a couple of years.
Before sparking a romance with tennis icon Maria Sharapova in 2018, Gilkes was previously married to fashion designer Misha Nonoo, a friend of Prince Harry and Meghan, and speculated to be the one who introduced the Sussexes.
The pair went public with their engagement on Instagram in 2021, with Maria posting: "I said yes from the first day we met. This was our little secret, wasn't it @gilkesa."
Alexander chimed in with his own heartfelt message: "Thank you for making me a very very happy boy. I look forward to a lifetime of loving you, and learning from you @mariasharapova."
