Ellen's wife Portia gave her the ultimate birthday present and it reduced her to tears

Ellen DeGeneres celebrated her 60th birthday in a special episode of her show and burst into tears after receiving a special gift from her wife, Portia de Rossi.

Portia made a special appearance on Thursday’s star-studded episode of The Ellen Showand announced she is setting up a gorilla centre in Rwanda in Ellen’s name.

Growing up, Ellen was struck by conservationist Dian Fossey – known for her study of the mountain gorilla and the Dian Fossey Fund, which ensures the survival and thriving of the endangered ground-dwelling ape in the central Africa nation .

Ellen has long said that if she could interview anyone dead or alive, it would be Dian. But the brave gorilla expert was tragically murdered in her cabin in 1985 at Karisoke Research Centre in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

But what makes Portia’s gift so special is how she's brought Ellen and Dian together, with this particular project being called The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda.

During the star-studded show, which also featured appearances by Michelle Obama, Jimmy Kimmel and more, Portia said:

This gift had to be really special, and it had to represent who you are and what you really care about – not just now, but what you've always cared about.”

Through tears, Ellen said:

It's the best gift.

When we got married, Portia's line was, 'It's good to be loved, [but] it's profound to be understood.'

She understands me, because that is the best gift that anybody could have given me.

Happy birthday Ellen.

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