Meghan Markle's make-up artist cries defending the Duchess in TV special with mutual friend Gayle King

One of Meghan Markle's closest friends and her long-time make-up artist, Daniel Martin, has defended The Duchess of Sussex against reports of diva behaviour.

In a TV special to air in the US on Friday night, Martin tells mutual friend Gayle King, the backlash and rumours about Meghan really get to him.

So much in fact that he began crying as he spoke about it in the CBS News special Meghan and Harry Plus One.

When asked "what are the tears about for you?", Martin told King while wiping away tears: "I think because I know her so well and I know she doesn't deserve all this negative press.

"What’s so frustrating is that you hear these stories and there’s no truth to them," he said.

Adding: "It’s not the same person. In the years I’ve known her, the years I’ve worked with her, she’s never had a diva fit, never."

The pair also talked about the controversial baby shower in New York thrown by friends, including Serena Williams and former Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer.

"All of us here just wanted her home and to celebrate her new baby," he said in a matter-of-fact tone of the three day affair at The Mark Hotel.

There were some lighter moments during their chat.

When King told Martin, "Your friend is a Duchess of Sussex", he laughed and replied: "It's so funny because she's still 'Meghan' to me".

Martin, who did Meghan's make-up on her wedding day this time last year, said that was the day he knew Prince Harry would be a great dad.

He says during the official portraits inside Windsor Castle, The Duke of Sussex "was on the floor just playing with the kids" in their bridal party.