Inside Tom Holland and Zendaya's secretive relationship timeline as the couple gets engaged

After four glorious years together, Zendaya and Tom Holland are gearing up to walk down the aisle, as the actor reportedly asked his Spider-Man costar to marry him over the holidays.

The news will certainly come as a delight to the couple's many fans, and poses as a happy ending to a love story that was years in the making.

The pair, both 28, famously met on set of the film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, and immediately, they developed a strong bond.

They played lovers in the Marvel series, and fans of the movies quickly began to wonder if they had taken their love off the screen and into real life too. 

They were often seen hanging out and had a series of adorable interactions during the press tour ahead of the film's release.

But the two insisted that they were just friends, and for years, they continuously shut down relationship rumors, while only growing closer.

Tom was spotted hanging out with Zendaya's parents, they would often gush over one another online, and their chemistry on screen was undeniable.

But the stars denied they were an item over and over again, and eventually, both were linked to other people.

It seemed as though all hope had been lost for the many people who longed for them to get together... that is, until July 2021, when they were caught kissing in Tom's car.

It was certainly shocking considering they had spent years insisting they were just friends, and a dream come true for Spider-Man fans around the globe.

Since then, the pair has been happily in love and they have proved time and time again that they are couple goals.

And now, they're going to become husband and wife. As the two stars prepare to get married, take a look back at their complete relationship timeline.

From everything they've said about their romance to their cutest moments together, here's everything you need to know about Tom and Zendaya's adorable love story. 

The early years: Zendaya and Tom bonded while filming Spider-Man and spent years dodging relationship rumors despite their obvious chemistry

Zendaya and Tom first met when they were both cast in the film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016.

It was clear that they hit it off right away, as Tom posted some behind-the-scenes snaps from on set that showed them them hanging out and swimming in a pool together.

The pair first sparked dating rumors when they posed on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter together in November 2016.

The image showed Tom sitting in a chair as Zendaya stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders.

During the press tour leading up to the flick's release, the two had a slew of adorable interactions on the red carpet and in interviews, which only fueled the speculation.

Between their clear close bond off camera and their chemistry on screen, fans became convinced that they were in a relationship.

But they insisted that they were only friends. 

'We are like the best of friends. She's so great and amazing,' Tom gushed of Zendaya to People magazine in July 2017.

'I'm a little worried [about dealing with fame… but] Zendaya is super famous and she's been through this and I just call her up and say, "How do I manage being famous?" I'm very glad I have a friend like her.'

They also shut down the rumors on X, formerly known as Twitter, as Zendaya replied to a report that claimed they were an item and wrote, 'Wait wait... my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years. How about you @TomHolland?'

'Does the press tour count?' he replied with some laughing emojis. 

The actress doubled down on the claims that they were just 'friends' while speaking to Variety one month later.

'We are friends,' she insisted. 'He's a great dude. He's literally one of my best friends. 

'This past how many months we've had to do press tours together. There's very few people that will understand what that's like at 20 years old.'

Growing closer: The two stars continued to gush over one another online and constantly hung out... but still insisted that they were just friends

But the dating rumors didn't stop Tom and Zendaya from continuously hanging out and gushing over one another online.

The speculation was only heightened when Page Six reported that Tom had been spotted out with Zendaya's parents in December 2017.

The pair sat together at the Oscars in March 2018, despite walking the carpet separately, and were seen at a comic store together in Los Angeles that same month. 

Plus, when Zendaya wowed on the red carpet at the Met Gala in May 2018, Tom sparked more rumors that they were dating when he posted a tribute to her on Instagram.

'All hail the queen. Killing it mate,' he captioned a shot of her in her stunning dress. 

The former Shake It Up star then posted a sweet message to Tom on his birthday in June of that year.

'Happy birthday loser,' she captioned a video that showed him playing with a lightsaber.

On her birthday that September, Tom shared a snap of them together and gushed, 'Happy birthday mate - keep killing it and paving the way for the rest of us.' 

In May 2019, Tom shared a snap of him, Zendaya, and their Spider-Man costar Jacob Batalon, and he suspiciously tagged Zendaya right on his private area.

She hilariously commented, 'I'm assuming because you don't know how to work Instagram, that's the reasoning behind my name placement.'

He replied, 'Thanks @zendaya for making me aware of my obvious blunder.' 

At this point, social media was ablaze with theories about their romance, but Tom insisted once again that they were not an item.

He told Elle in June 2019 that he was 'not romantically involved with anyone at the moment.'

By February 2020, it seemed all hope had been lost for Tomdaya shippers, as Zendaya was spotted kissing her Euphoria costar Jacob Elordi.

And a few months later, Tom went Instagram official with his girlfriend Nadia Parkes.

The confirmation everyone had been waiting for: The pair shocked the world when they were spotted kissing in July 2021

Both eventually split from their respective partners, and in July 2021, Zendaya and Tom shocked the world when they were spotted smooching in his car in Los Angeles.

They were also seen cozying up at a friend's wedding one month later, and there was no denying at this point that they were a couple.

Tom made their romance Instagram official in September 2021 when he posted a loved-up snap with the actress to Instagram in honor of her birthday. 

'My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when you're up xxx,' he wrote alongside a photo of them posing together behind-the-scenes of Spider-Man. 

He sat in the makeup chair in his Spider-Man costume as she leaned tenderly against his shoulder and held up the camera. 

That November, the couple spoke about wanting to keep their romance out of the public eye during an interview with GQ.

'One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn't really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,' Tom said.

Zendaya added, 'The equal sentiment [we both share] is just that when you really love and care about somebody, some moments or things, you wish were your own.

'I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other.'

In December 2021, ahead of the release of their new film Spider-Man: No Way Home, Zendaya shared a snap of Tom on set alongside one of him dressed up as the superhero as a kid.

'My Spider-Man, I'm so proud of you, some things never change and good thing,' she wrote.

Zendaya was by Tom's side when he headed to New York City to promote his film Uncharted in February 2022, and the couple was seen holding hands as they left their hotel together.

And later that month, they were spotted on a romantic date night in Rome, Italy, together.

Zendaya kicked off filming for her flick The Challengers in Boston in March 2022, and Tom was photographed out and about with her on numerous occasions that month.

One month later, Zendaya credited Tom with helping her get through some of the dark scenes that she had to film for Euphoria.

'I think it's great to have that support and love around you, because you need that,' she said to Entertainment Tonight.

'This isn't an easy job, so it's good to have that to free you up from it every now and then.'

In June 2022, she posted a selfie with Tom on his birthday and wrote, 'Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest.' 

Couple goals: The two stars have been happily in love ever since, but do their best to keep the intimate details of their relationship out of the spotlight

Throughout late 2022 and early 2023, the couple jetted off on a slew of trips together, traveling to Oakland, California, where Zendaya grew up, London, England, Venice, Italy, and Mumbai, India.

And in March 2023, Zendaya was seen wearing a gold ring with Tom's initials etched into it.

Tom spoke made a rare comment about their relationship to The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, explaining, 'Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible.

'We don't think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.' 

He also gushed on that Smartless podcast one month later, 'I'm lucky that I have someone like Zendaya in my life.

'It's interesting being in a romantic relationship with someone that is in the same boat as you.

'You can share your experiences and all that sort of stuff - and that's worth its weight in gold.' 

Zendaya told Elle in August 2023 that she and Tom like to keep their romance as private as possible in order to 'protect their peace.'

'Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I can't not be a person and live my life and love the person I love,' she said. 

'But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It's about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist.

'You can't hide. That's not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.'

On Zendaya's birthday in September 2023, Tom gave her a sweet shoutout on his Instagram, sharing a snap of her on a boat in snorkeling gear and writing, 'My birthday girl,' with a heart-eye emoji.

In April 2024, Zendaya reflected on 'watching Tom's life change' after he was cast as Spider-Man, and praised him for handling it 'really beautifully.'

'One day you're a kid and you’re at the pub with your friends, and then the next day you’re Spider-Man,' she told Vogue. 

'I definitely watched his life kind of change in front of him. But he handled it really beautifully.'

She added of his role in the West End production of Romeo & Juliet, '[I] could not be more proud. I’m going to try to see as many shows as I possibly can.' 

Here comes the bride: After nearly four years together, the pair is now gearing up to walk down the aisle together

That same month, People reported that the two stars were already discussing marriage.

'There has been talk of marriage, and that is a reality,' the insider dished, adding, '[But] work is important to both and that keeps them busy now.'

Once Tom's play kicked off, Zendaya was there in the audience supporting him on numerous occasions.

She was also by his side at the celebration of the launch of his non-alcoholic beer brand, Bero, in October 2024.

And in December, Tom revealed that they'd be spending the holidays together with her family in America.

'I'm going to be in America this year,' he said on the Dish podcast. 'I'll be with my girlfriend's family, which is fun.'

When asked why he doesn't walk the red carpet with Zendaya by Men's Health earlier this month, Tom explained, 'Because it's not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it's about us.'

He also confessed that he's already started thinking about what will happen when he has kids one day in the future.

'When I have kids, you will not see me in movies anymore,' said the star. '[It'll just be] golf and dad. And I will just disappear off the face of the earth.'

Days later, Zendaya sparked engagement rumors when she walked the red caret at the 2025 Golden Globes wearing a massive diamond rock on her left ring finger.

Afterwards, TMZ reported that the pair was indeed gearing up to walk down the aisle together, and that Tom had popped the question 'between Christmas and New Year's.'

The actor got down on one knee 'in a very intimate setting in one of Zendaya's family homes in the United States,' the site added. 

It was also claimed that no family was around them and that it was just the two of them when he asked the beauty to become Mrs. Holland. 

The proposal was described as 'romantic and not over the top.' 

DailyMail.com has reached out to Zendaya's rep for comment. 

Laura Taylor, a jeweler specializing in engagement and wedding rings at Lorel Diamonds, has estimated it could be worth around $500,000. 

She told DailyMail.com: 'The ring itself features a sizable diamond, likely in the five to six carat range, set on a simple yellow gold band.' 

Social media users were quick to point out that Zendaya's ring looked like an engagement ring designed by London based jeweler Jessica McCormack. 

Jessica's page posted a snap of a similar looking ring back in September, describing it as a east-west cushion ring.