Serena Williams is latest A-lister to receive bestie Meghan Markle’s As Ever gift hamper

Serena Williams is one of the latest recipients of her pal Meghan Markle’s treat-filled As Ever package.

The tennis legend, 43, took to her Instagram Story today to share the ‘best surprise of the day’ as she unveiled a hamper from the Duchess of Sussex‘s lifestyle brand, As Ever.

The ornately curated box – which has also been sent to A-listers including Mindy Kaling, Zoe Saldaña and Kris Jenner – featured a selection of products, including her signature Montecito ‘jam’.

‘I’m so excited for this,’ the athlete, who has 23 Grand Slam titles, could be heard saying. ‘Jam… oh my gosh, crepes!’

Serena was also delighted to see the mix of herbal teas included in the package. 

‘You know I love my tea,’ she added cheekily. ‘The one you drink and the one I serve.’

She concluded with thanking Meghan, 43 – who she has been friends with since the Suits days – on her social media.

It’s not the first time Serena – who was recently dubbed an ‘auntie’ by the Duchess, to her children – channelled her friend in the kitchen.

Serena Williams is the latest recipient of her bestie Meghan Markle’s treat-filled As Ever package. Both pictured in July

The tennis legend, 43, took to her Instagram Story today to share the ‘best surprise of the day’ as she unveiled a hamper from the Duchess of Sussex ‘s lifestyle brand, As Ever

Last month, she appeared to be getting serious about improving her culinary skills, filming herself carefully making a cherry pie, strawberry leaf tea and steak on crostini. 

The busy mother-of-two admitted that she was ‘in a hurry and the girls are home any minute’ as she showcased her skills, with Chappell Roan‘s Pink Pony Club providing the musical accompaniment to the clip. 

As the star hastily prepared the dinner, she admitted she couldn’t remember the ‘last time I made steak’ but did hand-make the pastry from scratch and had dehydrated strawberry leaves ‘from my farm’.

A number of the Duchess’s closest have now received an As Ever gifts, including influencer Kelly McKee Zajfen and actress Abigail Spencer.

Among them is Mindy Kaling, who this weekend showed off her As Ever gift package as she became one of the first lucky recipients of Meghan‘s new business launch. 

The Office star, 45, became close friends with the Duchess after appearing on an episode of her cancelled Archetypes podcast with Spotify, and even appeared as a guest on her recent cooking show, With Love, Meghan. 

The ornately curated box – which has also been sent to A-listers including Mindy Kaling – featured a selection of products, including her signature Montecito ‘jam’

Their close friendship was confirmed when Mindy was one of the selected few to receive a sample of Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard jam last year. 

And it appears they’ve only gone from strength to strength ever since as Mindy took to her Instagram story to show off her impressive gift box of As Ever goods.

Accompanied by a note with her name in an elegant scrawl by Meghan, Mindy received the shortbread cookie mix, As Ever jam in a keepsake box, three types of tea, the crepe mix and the flower sprinkles – the total value of which comes to $93. 

The generous gift comes after fans noted a very awkward exchange between Meghan and her pal in her recent Netflix series. 

In the clip, which later went viral on social media, Meghan insisted her surname is Sussex, after Mindy referred to her as ‘Meghan Markle’. 

In episode two of the show, the former royal was joined by Mindy as she showed her fellow mother how to host a children’s party.

As Meghan carefully demonstrated how to assemble a cucumber sandwich, the pair spoke about their favorite fast food growing up.

The Duchess of Sussex called herself a ‘latchkey kid’ who ‘grew up with a lot of fast food and TV tray dinners’, listing off US chains Pollo Loco, Taco Bell and Jack In The Box.

Mindy Kaling has also shown off her As Ever gift package as she became one of the first lucky recipients of Meghan Markle ‘s new business launch

It comes after Mindy starred in Meghan’s Netflix cooking show (pictured) – and fans noted a very awkward exchange between them

Jennifer Walsh – who appeared in episode six of Meghan’s Netflix show – gushed on her Instagram story: ‘I’m in love with everything – especially the flower sprinkles that I don’t know how I ever lived without!

Tracy Robbins, who was in episodes six and eight, posted a screenshot of her order, containing shortbread mix and raspberry spread

Laughingly, Mindy said: ‘I don’t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it.’

To this, the Duchess replied: ‘It’s so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I’m Sussex now.’

As Mindy looked confused, Meghan continued: ‘You have kids and you go “No, I share my name with my children”.

‘I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go “This is OUR family name. Our little family name”.

After being corrected, Mindy responded: ‘Well, now I know and I love it.’

Mindy and Meghan, who first met after The Office star appeared on Markle’s now-defunct Spotify podcast, Archetypes, reunited in Meghan’s kitchen to film the second episode.

The Duchess was teaching Mindy all of her tips and tricks for hosting a children’s birthday party, which included making a rainbow fruit salad and ladybug crostinis with tomatoes.

Last week, Meghan finally launched her lifestyle products, inspired by the meals and decorations she prepared in the series – and her famous pals all managed to snap up stock. 

As well as Mindy, Jennifer Walsh – who appeared in episode six of Meghan’s Netflix show – gushed on her Instagram story: ‘I’m in love with everything – especially the flower sprinkles that I don’t know how I ever lived without!’

Tracy Robbins, who was in episodes six and eight, posted a screenshot of her order, containing shortbread mix and raspberry spread.

And Meghan’s close friend Jamie Kern Lima cheerfully said ‘I barely got an order placed in time’ – while Kris Jenner seems to have been gifted a freebie.

Among the products included in the limited-edition drop were wildflower honey with honeycomb priced at $28 (£21.60) and some flower sprinkles at $15 (£11.60), while a jar of raspberry jam set punters back $14 (£10.80). 

Other goods in the Duchess’s lifestyle range included shortbread and crepe mixes – both being sold for $14 – and various herbal tea mixes for $12 (£9.30) each.

In a post on social media, Meghan wrote: ‘We’re live! Come shop the As ever collection I’ve poured so much love into. So excited to share this with you’, before adding ‘limited quantities for each seasonal drop’. 

Launching the range, Meghan told her followers in a newsletter that it’s a ‘love language’ rather than a brand.

In a gushing message to her followers, she wrote: ‘If you’ve been receiving these newsletters, you’ve been reading my musings about this brand and why it means so much to me – why it’s person, why it brings me joy, and how I hope that it becomes both personal and joyful for you too.

‘You’re now familiar with the line-up of products, and as of today you can order them for yourself to experience at home. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

‘Welcome to As Ever…this is just the beginning!’