Meghan Markle's Hollywood set grows in strength - 11 of her closest pals revealed

Meghan Markle reportedly has a "great group" of friends in the US, ranging from people in the public eye to local mums in Montecito whom she sees regularly.

Reflecting on her inner circle, a source previously told US Weekly that Meghan has friends "who are all successful in their own ways who she really trusts".

Prince Harry and Meghan now reside in California with their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

Despite claims that both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lost a host of friends in recent years, Meghan and Harry have a number of people around them that they can rely on and who keep them company as they continue to navigate life away from the constraints of royal life.

As news of her friendships bloom, here Express.co.uk looks at 11 of Meghan's closest friends.

Whitney Wolfe Herd

As the world's youngest self-made female billionaire, Whitney, now 33, launched dating app Bumble in 2014 when she was just 25.

In 2023, Forbes estimated her net worth at £386 million ($510m).

Jamie Kern Lima

Much like Whitney, Meghan is said to "very close" to Jamie, according to US weekly.

She is an IT Cosmetics co-founder and became a multi-millionaire when she sold her company to L’Oreal for $1.2 billion in cash in 2016, per Forbes.

Abigail Spencer

Abigail first met Meghan when they auditioned together for US drama Suits - with the pair having been inseperatable ever since.

Discussing their friendship, Abigail previously told The Kelly Clarkson Show: "Our friendship really developed during that time, and deepened. She’s an incredible person."

Back in 2021, Abigail also posted a sweet tribute to Meghan on Instagram. She wrote: "I’ve learned so much from Meg. The power of a handwritten note. The loveliness of surprise flowers. That she has a perpetual rolodex in her brain of recommendations for the heart, soul, & body.

"When I’m headed to a new town, there’s a hotel or dinner reservation at the ready, as well as a connection with one of her friends to show me around so I feel less alone."

Delfina Blaquier

With her husband Nacho Figueras becoming one of Prince Harry's closest friends, it is no surprise that Meghan is close to Delfina.

Writing in 2022, Delfina shared her appreciation for Meghan - and their friendship - on Instagram.

She wrote: "Getting to spend time together over these 2 months was so special. I wish everyone [knew] you the way you are. My sister [red-heart emoji], my now fellow “pwife” (polo wife) -genius of you to come up with this [cry-laughing emoji] – Can’t wait to see you again soon, to share thrill, hikes, and just more chill time."

Speaking to OK! in 2022, Nacho also showed his appreciation for Meghan by stating how happy he was when the pair found love. He said: "I have known him for so long and he has always wanted someone to love and marry and have a family with, so it makes me so happy to see them happy and with two beautiful children."

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry is best known for offering his home to Meghan and Harry when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. At the time, their temporary place in Canada was already hounded by paparazzi.

He told Kelly Ripa in the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, per Vanity Fair: "They hid out at my house for a long time. It was so great."

During her interview with Oprah in 2021, Meghan said: "We needed a house and he offered security as well. So it gave us breathing room to try to figure out what we are going to do."

“They were so happy. It was such a beautiful moment,” Perry - who later became Lilibet's godparent - said.

Janina Gavankar

Actress Janina Gavankar has not only been a longtime friend of Meghan's, but she spoke out when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were criticized following their Oprah Winfrey interview in early 2021.

She spoke out via The Morning - as per Elle - and said: "Though their ‘recollections may vary,’ ours don’t because we lived through it with them.

"And there are many emails and texts to support that."

Misha Nonoo

Meghan and fashion designer Misha Nonoo’s friendship began way back to 2014.

Misha told The New York Times: "We met at a lunch in Miami during Art Basel. And we sat down and we started, actually, right from the get-go, talking about a shared passion for equality, women’s empowerment and our love of dogs."

Misha was lucky enough to get an invitation to Meghan and Harry's wedding in 2018 - with the couple even, as per HELLO!, attending her wedding the following year.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams - who was Meghan's first podcast guest on Archetypes - and Meghan first met in 2010.

As per PEOPLE, Serena said in 2021: "Meghan is a great person and I think the epitome of strength, the epitome of confidence, the epitome of just selflessness, and the epitome of everything is just her and everything that she’s gone through.

"And I know it’s not easy, and you can see from the interview that it wasn’t easy. But she had so much poise and she still had so much class.”

Speaking on Archetypes, Meghan said: "We became such fast friends."

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen's friendship with Meghan began after the pair met in a dog shelter.

The mother of two told Ellen in a 2021 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: "You just looked at me and said, ‘Are you getting that dog? You have to take it home'.

"“And I said, ‘Well if Ellen says I have to take it home, I’m getting this dog.'"

Meghan has also become friends with Ellen's wife Portia de Rossi.

Oprah Winfrey

As well as her friendship over the years, Oprah also gave Meghan and Harry a platform in her 2021 sit-down interview.

The interview went into detail about the couple's experience of royal life - from Meghan’s struggle with her mental health and their move to the US.

Oprah also spoke opening up about supporting Meghan and Harry's decision to step away from royal life.

She told TMZ at the time: "I support them 1,000 percent. You know why I support them? I support them because I believe, when you have thought about this as long as they have — and even in the Queen's statement [she] says, 'This has been going on for months,' these discussions have been going on for months — and when Harry said in that charity statement the other day [that] he had to make the decision to move forward in peace with his new family, who doesn't feel what that takes to make that decision to give up everything you've known your whole life to say I'm going to choose this new life or what I believe to be the truest vision for myself?"

Lindsay Roth

Meghan also has two old Universty friends that she was once spotted with at Wimbledon in 2019 - Lindsay Roth and Genevieve Hillis.

Much like Meghan, Lindsay graduated from Northwestern University's School of Speech and Medill School of Journalism - and has remained close to Meghan ever since.