The talk show legend originally agreed to Stedman Graham's proposal in 1992 after six years of dating and he is now planning to ask her a second time, triggered by an emotional trip to South African political figure Nelson Mandela's funeral on December 15.

  sources say : "It was a highly emotional journey for Oprah Winfrey, who loved Mandela and everything he stood for. During this time of grief there was only one person in the world she turned to - her Stedman.

"It was a spiritual mission and Stedman held her close during the funeral service. He realized right then and there he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Oprah as a married couple."

Friends have been urging motivational speaker Stedman Graham to ask Oprah Winfrey to marry him again on her 60th birthday, this January.

The source added: "Stedman feels the two are soul mates, they've lasted together this long and should finally make it official. Stedman also realized that when their days end, he wants to be buried next to Oprah and knows that will only happen if they wed."