"I met them and I learned just how much scrutiny they're under all the time — but you know that, because you've been friends with (Harry) for a long time," she said to Figueras, 42.
"I've seen it all happen from the very beginning when he was younger … He is a wonderful man, someone that really cares, he's really committed," the polo star replied.
"He cares about children, he cares about making the world a better place. Then he found Meghan, who is an incredible girl, she's amazing — she gave up all the things she had to marry this man she loves.
"And people think how easy it is, for you to go and marry this guy … But no one knows the very hard things that go with that."
Just days ago, Harry took the extraordinary step of slamming the British press in a lengthy statement, accusing them of "bullying" his wife and spreading "lies" about her, forcing them both to put on "brave faces".
He also announced that Meghan is suing UK tabloid Mail on Sunday over an allegedly unlawfully published letter, which had been privately sent to her father, Thomas Markle Senior.
During the interview with DeGeneres, Figueras went on to explain that the negative publicity surrounding the Sussexes has been unfair and "depressing".
"The most depressing (thing) is that the media and even some people are not seeing that these two (Meghan and Harry) are heroes, we should be treating them as heroes," he said passionately.
"These guys are taking their time to make the world a better place and they're fighting for us, and instead of us embracing them and loving them and cheering for them, we're attacking them. It's a shame."
DeGeneres agreed, adding: "Well said. I love them so much. They're good people, like you said."
Earlier in the show, DeGeneres revealed that Figueras was the one who introduced her to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, culminating in her private visit to Frogmore Cottage recently.
DeGeneres and her wife, Porta de Rossi, were in Britain on a sightseeing tour when they were invited to the royals' home to discuss their shared passion for conservation work.
"Here's a sentence I thought I'd never say, but I spent the afternoon with Prince Harry and Meghan," she told The Ellen Show audience in early September.
"I can't tell you how sweet they are, but the most important thing is I got to hold Archie, little Archie. I fed Archie, I held Archie.
" … He looks just like Harry — and he had more hair than I did at the time."
DeGeneres also spoke about Harry and Meghan's relationship, describing them as "the cutest couple".
"I just want to say it was an honour for them to meet me. Seriously, they are so amazing — the cutest couple and so down to earth," she said, before weighing in on the recent furore over their use of private planes.
"I hate it — 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.
"Portia and I talked to them about all the conservation they are doing for wildlife. They are doing all this work in Botswana for elephants and I love that, and they like what I'm doing for the gorillas in Rwanda, so we're gonna all do something together."
