Time to dust down the tea towels

When the bookies start cutting odds, it's time to get serious.  Betting shops across the UK are slashing odds on Prince Harry getting married after another flurry of rumours that the younger Wales brother is on the brink of popping the question to Cressida Bonas.  And now that the birth and christening of his nephew are out of the way, not to mention granny's coronation anniversary celebrations, he won't be stealing anyone else's thunder with a trip down the aisle.  Taking Miss Bonas to Sandringham for a shooting party is no way to dispel rumours anyway and with the couple just back from a very royal weekend away, it's no wonder bookies are slashing the odds.  Start making the tea towels, bunting and flags now.  There might just be another royal party getting under way and with Harry in charge, it will be a good one.

Prince Harry could well be dominating royal headlines in 2014

Harry parties in Fred's footsteps

Prince Harry's trip to Sydney might be worrying Cressida Bonas a bit.  We all know what happens when eligible young princes start partying in Australia's populous city.  They come back with wives.  Thirteen years ago, around this time, the Crown Prince of Denmark popped across to Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games and while out partying, met Mary Elizabeth Donaldson.  And the rest is history.  Harry is on a flying visit to Australia to represent Queen Elizabeth II at a fleet review in Sydney Harbour.

Every inch the model prince - Harry of Wales at the fleet review in Sydney on October 5th 2013

 

The review, with ships from around the world, marks the centenary of the first entry of Australia's navy into Sydney harbor.  In 1913, six ships sailed into the city's waters to be greeted by thousands of Australians.  Harry got to see forty warships and sixteen tall ships and a massive crowd estimated to be around one million who loved the boats and seemed pretty happy when the party prince swapped his uniform for a smart suit and went on a walkabout.

 

 

No need for brotherly rivalry here as Harry pulls in a crowd to rival any turnout William can muster as he greets wellwishers in Sydney, Australia

 

Then it was off to a reception with new Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. The tour will take Harry to Perth as well before he heads home, just forty eight hours after touching down.  And in the middle of all the excitement, we're told, the party prince was going to party in Sydney.  Words to strike dread into any royal girlfriend's heart.