UK - Britain's Prince Harry, labelled the "party prince", may be settling down soon.

British newspaper The Telegraph quoted a friend of the woman who captured his heart as saying that marriage is on the cards.

"Cressie is going to marry Harry," said the friend of the 24-year-old socialite Cressida Bonas.

"Harry never stops talking about marriage and children, and she has now got used to the idea. The wedding is likely to take place next year."

News of the Prince's impending marriage came as he was on his first official visit to Australia over the weekend, where he was mobbed.

That the Prince, who turns 30 next year, wanted to settle down with Miss Bonas was no secret, reported The Telegraph last Saturday.

He was smitten by her free-spirited ways soon after they were introduced by his cousin, Princess Eugenie, in May last year.

However, she was not ready for marriage.

"Cressida has been in floods of tears," the newspaper quoted one of her friends as saying. "Harry is coming on very strong, but she is all over the place. She thinks she is far too young to get married and is scared by all his talk of marriage and settling down."

But the Prince persisted, even when he was sent to serve in Afghanistan in November last year, keeping in regular telephone contact with Miss Bonas throughout his four-month posting. Their relationship blossomed after his return.

The pair have the same sparkling sense of fun and relish a good party, according to The Telegraph.

Miss Bonas, who spent a gap year working in a bar and restaurant in Australia, studied dance at Leeds University.

Her family has direct links to Edward VII and her mother is the 1960s "It girl", Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, 66.

Her father is her mother's third husband, Mr Jeffrey Bonas, a businessman.

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