- Cressida Bonas, 24, has 'got used to the idea' of marriage and children
- 30-year-old Prince greeted by tens of thousands of adoring fans in Sydney
- Then Harry went on walkabout where he was greeted by screaming fans
- One newspaper warns Australian prime minister to 'lock up his daughters'
- Staunch monarchist PM Tony Abbott apologises for republican movement
Prince Harry’s girlfriend has overcome her concerns about marrying into the Royal family, it was claimed today.
Cressida Bonas, 24, has ‘got used to the idea’ of marriage and children with the 30-year-old Prince - and a wedding is expected to take place next year, according to friends of the couple.
‘Cressie is going to marry Harry,’ one of the dance student’s friends told The Sunday Telegraph. ‘Harry never stops talking about marriage and children, and she has now got used to the idea.’
Couple: Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas seen leaving The Prince of Wales Theatre in Central London on Tuesday after attending a performance of The Book of Mormon
Adulation: Tens of thousands of screaming fans turned out to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry
Joking about: Prince Harry is greeted by members of the public during the 2013 International Fleet Review
Warm welcome: Harry shakes hands with scores of adoring fans in the Campbell's Cove area of the city
Fans of all ages: Harry jokes with a toddler held by its mother at the front of the crowd
It comes as Harry was mobbed by tens of thousands of adoring fans on Sydney’s famous harbour as he began his first official visit of Australia yesterday - which he attended without Miss Bonas.
Screams greeted the Prince as he went on a walkabout among the excited crowds after officially attending the International Fleet Review, which involved 40 warships from 17 nations.
Despite being in Australia to represent the Queen, Harry’s party-loving reputation preceded him, as one national newspaper warned the country’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott to ‘lock up his daughters’.
Harry has been dating Miss Bonas since July 2012 and sparked rumours in August when he whisked her off on an African safari, just like his brother William did with Kate in 2010 when he proposed.
Miss Bonas, who recently graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, avoids the public eye wherever possible and the couple are very careful about being photographed together.
Australian trip: Prince Harry speaks to the media (left) and walks along the tarmac (right) at Sydney Airport before departing for Perth
Talks: Prince Harry (left) speaks with Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (right) at Sydney Airport today
Visit: Prince Harry speaks to the media (left) and points towards his police escort (right) at Sydney Airport
They went to see a James Blunt concert last Monday in Notting Hill, west London, and then went to see West End musical The Book of Mormon the follow day.
And they were seen arriving at London King’s Cross station together following the society wedding of Thomas van Straubenzee to the Duke of Northumberland's daughter Lady Melissa Percy in June.
Yesterday, despite a 20-hour flight from the UK, Harry showed no sign of jet lag as he boarded the Australian Navy’s survey ship HMAS Leeuwin.
The Prince was dressed in a white Army tropical uniform with the sky-blue beret of Army Air Corps.
Harry was joined on board the Leeuwin by Mr Abbott, and Governor-General Quentin Bryce, the Queen’s representative in Australia.
Shaking hands: Prince Harry (left) greets PM Tony Abbott at Sydney Airport before departing for Perth
Cheers: Prince Harry thanks the police officers who escorted him to Sydney Airport before departing for Perth
Greetings: Prince Harry meets with West Australian Premier Colin Barnett and his wife Lyn after arriving in Perth
Walking: Prince Harry arrives at Perth Airport with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and is greeted by West Australian Premier Colin Barnett
Driven off: Prince Harry gets into a car at Perth Airport in Australia, as a security officer opens the door for him
As Harry sailed past the Sydney Opera House, tens of thousands of spectators roared at him.
Later, he changed into a navy blue suit for a walkabout among the adoring crowds. Among them was student Lauren Burke, 22, who resembled Harry’s girlfriend Cressida Bonas, 24.
She said: ‘I tried my best to flirt with him but it was quite formal and he was well behaved. I told him if he ever wanted to look around Sydney, I would be his guide. He smiled and laughed.’
Another onlooker, trainee medic Renee Simmons, 21, described Harry as ‘gorgeous’, adding: ‘I’m in love. He wears a uniform very well.’
'Perfect gentleman': Lauren Burke, 22, left was weak at the knees when Harry picked up her mother Therese's hat while they stood in the crowd
For the cameras: Harry poses for a photograph with a member of the public holding a small koala cuddly toy
Snap happy: The public, holding cameras and smartphones, crowd around the Prince to take his photograph
Good to meet you! Prince Harry shakes hands with a small boy during his first official tour of the country
Crowded: A wave of people pack the foreshore to view the fleet of ships from 17 countries
Fans: Crowds gather to catch a glimpse of the Prince, who is representing the Queen during his visit
All aboard: The Prince boards a small boat to cross the harbour for a reception at Kirribilli House, on the north side of the bay with the country's Prime Minister Tony Abbott
...... and why are the Aussies so nervous about HRH being with the PM's girls?
The Prince then made his way across the harbour by boat to Kirribilli House, the official residence of the Australian prime minister.
He posed for photographs with Mr Abbott, his wife Margie and their daughters, Frances, 22, and Bridget, 20 – who the politician had described as ‘not bad looking’ during the recent election campaign.
Mr Abbott, a staunch monarchist, apologised to Harry for his nation’s strong republican movement, saying: ‘I regret to say that not every Australian is a monarchist, but today everyone feels like a monarchist.’
THE press had warned him to ‘lock up his daughters’ – but Mr Abbott was more than happy to introduce Prince Harry to Bridget, 20, Frances, 22, and his wife Margie at his official residence.
In action: Prince Harry stands and salutes as he arrives at Garden Island in Sydney
All smiles: Harry grins for photographers onboard the HMAS Leeuwin during the celebrations
Visit: Harry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott view Sydney Harbour during the Fleet Review
Official: Prince Harry and Governor-General Quentin Bryce pose onboard the HMAS Leeuwin
The fleet review climaxed with a stunning fireworks display over Sydney Harbour Bridge seen by an estimated million spectators.
He described his Sydney experience as ‘absolutely fantastic’ before boarding Mr Abbott's jet today to fly to the west coast city of Perth.
‘It's just ... really sad that we're leaving,’ the 29-year-old royal told reporters before boarding the jet. ‘Work - just can't get the time off work nowadays.’
‘The next time I come back you're going to be struggling to get rid of me, I'm sure,’ he added.
Meeting the family: Harry is introduced by Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott to his daughter Bridget, second left, as his wife Margie, centre, and daughter Francis, left, look on
Keep to get a glimpse: Crowds wait for the prince at Kirribilli House, where a reception was held for the prince
Meeting fans: The Prince shakes hands with the gathering crowds outside the Prime Minister's residence
Magical: The day came to a close with a light show and massive fireworks display over the harbour
Incredible: The show, which saw more than 7 metric tons (7.7 tons) of fireworks used, was expected to draw 1.4 million spectators
Magnificent: Fireworks explode as the Royal Australian Navy warship HMAS Sydney sits underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Spectacular: The Prince watched the amazing display from the reception at Kirribilli House
Lit up: The Sydney Opera House looks magnificent during the display
Western Australia state Premier Colin Barnett, who greeted Harry in Perth, said the fourth in line to the throne explained that he had to be home in a few days.
‘He said it was a short visit because he had to be back to work on Thursday,’ Mr Barnett told reporters.
He is then heading to Dubai on Monday for a gala dinner for his charity Sentebale.
Prince Harry last visited Australia in 2003 during his gap year, when he worked on a ranch in the outback.
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