American talkshow host Oprah Winfrey has received a honourary doctorate from Harvard University.

The 59-year-old international television celebrity was on campus to deliver Harvard's Commencement Address (graduation speech), an honour previously bestowed on Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, among others.

Winfrey has also addressed graduating classes at Stanford and Duke Universities, as well as the Spelman College.

According to the Harvard Crimson, Oprah Winfrey stressed the challenges of recovering from failure and encouraged students to treat failure as "life trying to move us in another direction".

"At some point, you are bound to stumble. You will at some point fall, and when you do, I want you remember this -There is no such thing as failure; failure is just life trying to move us in another direction," she explained.

"Here's the key. Learn from every mistake, because every experience and encounter, particularly your mistakes, are there to teach you and force you into being more of who you are," the veteran businesswoman added.

"Each of you has been blessed with this enormous opportunity of attending this prestigious school. You now have a chance to better your life, the lives of your neighbors, and also the life of our country," Winfrey concluded, adding, "When you do that, let me tell you what I know for sure: that's when your story gets really good."

Check out a video of Oprah Winfrey's Commencement Address at Harvard University.

Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey Reuters
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey R sits with Harvard President Drew Faust before the 362nd Commencement ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 30,
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey joins Harvard president Drew Faust for the university's 362nd Commencement ceremony (graduation speech) Reuters
Oprah Winfrey accepts an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Marc Goodheart R, Vice President and Secretary of the University following in the footsteps of Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Microsoft founder Bill Gates
Oprah accepts her honorary Doctor of Law degree from Marc Goodheart, vice-president and secretary of the university, following in the footsteps of Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Microsoft founder Bill Gates Reuters
Oprah Winfrey L talks to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino before the 362nd Commencement ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 30, 2013
Oprah chats to Boston mayor Thomas Menino Reuters
Oprah Winfrey and professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. R arrive for Harvard Universitys 362nd Commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oprah Winfrey and Prof Henry Gates arrive for Harvard's Commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts Reuters
Oprah Winfrey stands for the United States national anthem during Harvard Universitys 362nd Commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oprah Winfrey stands for the United States national anthem during Harvard University's 362nd Commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts REUTERS
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