Meghan Markle has reportedly found an unlikely ally in Ellen DeGeneres as she navigates the fallout of her return to the UK amid the ongoing royal feud.
According to a report in Star Magazine, the former US talk show host has become a confidante for the Duchess of Sussex, with the two women speaking regularly about the strains of royal life. 'Ellen and Meghan are very close. They're talking pretty much every day, so of course Meghan has been venting to her about everything she's going through,' the source said.
The source explained that DeGeneres gets 'worked up' when she hears about Prince William and Kate Middleton 'freezing' Meghan 'out'. DeGeneres is reportedly firmly on the Duchess's side and is strongly advising her to take a stand against the royal family.
DeGeneres is said to understand Meghan's predicament intimately, having had a 'hard time' adjusting to life in the UK herself after relocating with her wife Portia de Rossi. The pair are now happily settled in the Cotswolds, and the talk show host is 'convinced' that Meghan will also find her feet in Britain. She has reportedly offered the Duchess a 'pep talk' to boost her confidence.
The friendship became public when Page Six spotted Meghan and DeGeneres having lunch at the Three Horseshoes pub near Burford, Oxfordshire, on 21 September, with de Rossi accompanying them. The sighting fuelled speculation about a deepening bond between the two high-profile transatlantic arrivals in the Cotswolds.
The Sussexes have faced a string of controversies since returning to England, from rows over taxpayer-funded security to reports of their children being abruptly pulled out of school over safety concerns, and the furore surrounding the former Prince Andrew's legal battle with police. Palace sources say William has not spoken to his brother or sister-in-law in years, and claims this week that the Sussexes were planning an apology to the Waleses were dismissed as 'nonsense'.
Whether DeGeneres's counsel helps Meghan mend fences or hardens the standoff remains to be seen. For now, the Duchess appears to be building a new support network in the Cotswolds, far from the palace walls.
DeGeneres and de Rossi moved to the Cotswolds after the end of her long-running US talk show, and have become fixtures of the area's celebrity set. The September lunch at the Three Horseshoes near Burford was the first public sighting of the friendship. Meghan, who returned to England with Harry earlier this year, has been rebuilding her social circle in the UK. The Sussexes' children have reportedly been enrolled at local schools, though reports of an abrupt withdrawal over security concerns have also circulated. With the royal feud showing no sign of thawing, the Duchess appears to be investing in a new chapter among the Cotswolds' famous residents.