Prince William's millionaire pal who is engaged to a Wimbledon legend

With Wimbledon just about to swing into action at SW19, excitement is reaching fever pitch, not just for the tennis, but for the nostalgic flashbacks and celebrity appearances, including former tennis legends. But one tennis champion, Maria Sharapova, has been engaged to Prince William's best friend since 2020.

Tennis legend Maria Sharapova has been in a relationship with businessman Alexander Gilkes since 2018 and became engaged to him on December 17, 2021. Furthermore, the couple welcomed a baby boy together in July, 2022.

Alexander Mark Heming Gilkes was born in London in July 1979 and has built an impressive career in the art world thanks to his many connections that stretch back to his school days at Eton College and his university days at the University of Bristol.

Alexander's career as an art dealer has seen him co-found the online art auction house Paddle8 in 2011 and was the company's president until 2018. Another royal link he has under his belt is an association with Princess Eugenie who worked at Paddle8 for two years.

Before he started his relationship with the tennis legend in 2018, he was married to fashion designer Misha Nonoo, a close friend of both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The couple announced their engagement via Instagram in 2021, Maria wrote: "I said yes from the first day we met. This was our little secret, wasn't it @gilkesa."

Alexander added: "Thank you for making me a very very happy boy. I look forward to a lifetime of loving you, and learning from you @mariasharapova."

Gilkes shares a long-standing friendship with Prince William and Prince Harry, and even attended William and Kate's wedding.

At just 17 years old, Maria Sharapova shocked the world when she upset two-time reigning champ Serena Williams in July 2004 to win Wimbledon and become the first Russian woman to take the title.

Speaking publicly about retirement previously to People Magazine, she confessed: "I don't know if any woman ever knows when it's time to step into a new phase or motherhood, but I feel like I made the choice at the right time. I feel like I have a healthy distance from tennis. I was ready for a new chapter in life."

Sharapova often draws parallels between her athletic discipline and her motherhood routine.