Meghan Markle has told her inner circle of friends she is planning to give her first interview to Ellen DeGeneres after the two have become close, insiders exclusively told DailyMail.com.

'Ellen and Meghan have already discussed a sit-down interview. That has been in the works for quite some time now,' a source at the Ellen Show confirmed.

The two met by chance years ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles where Ellen encouraged Meghan to adopt her first dog Bogart, and the women have stayed in touch.

Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi even took a trip to London to visit Prince Harry and Meghan after the birth of Archie over the summer, remarking on her talk show: 'I see them get attacked and it's not fair. They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they're doing so much good for the world.'

It's because of their friendship that Meghan wants to give Ellen her first interview, as a friend told DailyMail.com: '[Meghan] said Ellen understands her pain and suffering. That she epitomizes authenticity. [Meghan] feels like they are kindred spirits.'

A spokesperson for Ellen did not return DailyMail.com's request for comment but when caught on camera on Friday and asked if she was excited to interview Meghan, she remarked: 'Sure, I'm excited.'

'Ellen getting the first shot at an in-depth interview is surely going to put Oprah's - (and Gayle King's) nose out of joint,' a source added to DailyMail.com.

'After all, Oprah wooed Meghan's mother by having her spend the day in Montecito, wrangled an invite to the wedding and has been pretty vocal in her support of the couple's decision to break away,' the source said.

Meghan Markle has told her inner circle of friends she is planning to give her first interview to Ellen DeGeneres after the two have become close, insiders exclusively told DailyMail.com

Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi took a trip to London to visit Prince Harry and Meghan after the birth of Archie over the summer (pictured), remarking on her talk show: 'I see them get attacked and it's not fair. They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they're doing so much good for the world'

'Ellen getting the first shot at an in-depth interview is surely going to put Oprah's - (and Gayle King's) nose out of joint,' a source said. 'After all, Oprah wooed Meghan's mother by having her spend the day in Montecito, wrangled an invite to the wedding and has been pretty vocal in her support of the couple's decision to break away,' the source said. Pictured: Oprah attending Meghan's wedding (left) and Gayle King at Meghan's baby shower (right)

But Ellen hinted at how close they were back in November, revealing she had invited a pair of dancers onto her show after Meghan sent her a text about the 'great' duo.

She also said that while spending time with Meghan and Harry in London, they talked about their work on wildlife conservation, something both couples share a passion for.

The insider added: 'Meghan adores Ellen and loves the fact that she and Portia are huge animal lovers.

'She said they have stayed in touch since meeting in person and have become close.

'She said they actually have a lot in common and that Ellen has been a huge support, especially since moving to Canada.

A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com the interview will 'be all hush-hush and most likely at a secret location' because the 'studio poses too many challenges'.

They added: 'Ellen has a way of making things happen. Plus Ellen has made it clear to her staffers that Meghan is one of the nicest, most real people she's ever met and that Harry is just the same.

'She would want a sit-down with the both of them together. She wants her fans to see what she already knows to be true.

'I wouldn't be surprised if they forge even more of a friendship now that Meghan is in North America.'

The two met by chance years ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles where Ellen encouraged Meghan to adopt her first dog Bogart (right), and the women have stayed in touch

DeGeneres held Archie on a summer trip to the UK, telling her studio audience how she fed him. Ellen also said that while spending time with Meghan and Harry in London, they talked about their work on wildlife conservation

Meghan may also sit down with Oprah, who attended her May 2018 wedding, or Gayle King, who went to Meghan's baby shower, the source said. But Meghan wants to talk to Ellen first.

On Tuesday, both Oprah and Gayle launched an extraordinary defense of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step down from the royal family.

Oprah, 66, who has grown close with the couple over the past few years, defended them after being stopped by reporters while walking with Gayle, 65, in New York.

In a video published by TMZ, Oprah said that she supported the Sussexes '1,000 percent' in their decision to step back from the royal family, adding that she believes Prince Harry 'did what he needed to do for his family.'

She said: 'I don't think anybody else has any right to say anything, when a person has sat and thought about what is the best decision for him and his family, and then he makes that decision... none of us have any right to say anything about that.'

Meanwhile Gayle insisted: 'Prince Harry didn't make that decisions in a vacuum. There were a lot of conversations.'

Oprah added: 'I support them because I believe that when you have thought about this as long as they have... And even in the Queen's statement, take note, this has been going on for months.'

She went on to praise Prince Harry for the choice, saying: 'Who doesn't have feel what it takes to make those decision, to give up everything you've known your whole life, to say "I am going to choose this new life and what I believe to be the truest vision to myself?". Who are any of us to stand in judgement of that? That's what I think.'

The insider added: 'Meghan adores Ellen and loves the fact that she and Portia are huge animal lovers. She said they have stayed in touch since meeting in person and have become close.' A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com: '[Ellen] would want a sit-down with both [Harry and Meghan]... She wants her fans to see what she already knows to be true'

Earlier this week, DailyMail.com revealed that Meghan had told her friends that quitting the royal family was the best thing that could ever happen to Harry, saying 'it was her love for him that made this possible,' a friend said.

'She said that like her, his spirit was being crushed and she simply couldn't stand to see him suffer anymore,' the friend added.

Harry was seen grinning as he stepped off a plane in Vancouver late on Monday night, heading back to his wife and eight-month-old son Archie. Meghan herself was seen beaming while out for a walk with Archie and her two dogs on Monday morning.

The couple have been staying at an opulent $14 million Vancouver Island mansion, which they have used since Thanksgiving, and the close friend revealed the two have no plans to move out anytime soon.

Meghan and Harry also have no intention of stripping the word 'royal' from their SussexRoyal website, as the insider added: 'Meghan says they will always be considered royalty regardless of where they live or what they do.'

Over the weekend, it was dramatically announced that Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will repay around $3 million [£2.4 million] of taxpayers' money spent refurbishing their Frogmore Cottage.

Earlier this week, DailyMail.com revealed that Meghan had told her friends that quitting the royal family was the best thing that could ever happen to Harry, saying 'it was her love for him that made this possible,' a friend said. Harry was seen grinning as he stepped off a plane in Vancouver late on Monday night (pictured)

A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com the interview will 'be all hush hush and most likely at a secret location' because the 'studio poses too many challenges'. They added: 'Ellen has a way of making things happen. Plus Ellen has made it clear to her staffers that Meghan is one of the nicest, most real people she's ever met and that Harry is just the same'

Still, a number of unresolved issues remain, including whether Harry and Meghan will be required to strip the word 'Royal' from their SussexRoyal website, and who will pick up the hefty bill for their continuing security requirements.

However, Meghan's friend told DailyMail.com: 'Meghan and Harry are not planning on changing their website or Instagram name. They are still considered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. And they will keep the Royal part in.

'She described herself and Harry as game changers destined to hack the status quo. And now they can finally go about their business.'

The friend added: 'Meghan has been telling her close friends that this is the best thing that could ever happen to Harry.

'That out of anyone he will flourish the most and that it was her love for him that made this possible.'

The insider also revealed that 'Meghan told her friends that there is no rush to move out of the place they've been staying. That they're welcome to live there as long as they like.

'Meghan calls it her happy place and says that in the last couple of months, she's felt more at home than she ever did in the UK.'