SHE’S THE STUNNING AUSTRALIAN SINGER
who’s left a trail of besotted men in her wake. He’s the third in line to the British throne and 10 years her junior. Natalie Imbruglia might not exactly be what you’d call ‘Royal material’, but that hasn’t stopped Prince Harry from pursuing her for the last five months after nursing what friends say has been a crush for several years. Now Grazia can exclusively reveal that Harry, 24, and Natalie, 34, have become romantically involved - with Harry even referring to her as his ‘girlfriend’.

The pair share mutual friends, but it wasn’t until Natalie’s 34th birthday party at the Kensington Roof Gardens in February this year that they started speaking regularly. Then, at the Hard Rock Calling event in London’s Hyde Park last week, Harry and Natalie chose to make their first appearance in public as a couple. In front of numerous eye witnesses, the pair had dinner in the VIP area - then kissed and cuddled as they watched The Killers perform from the side of the stage.

A source at the festival told Grazia: ‘Before they arrived, Harry’s security came to talk to The Killers team backstage to discuss the possibility of Harry coming to visit the band after the gig and they specifically said he would be with his girlfriend and some other friends.’ According to the source, when Harry arrived it became very clear that the ‘girlfriend’ was Natalie Imbruglia.

‘Natalie was the only other girl there along with Harry and his friends. While The Killers performed, Harry and Natalie both watched from the side of the stage - he couldn’t stop hugging her, kissing her on the cheek and putting his arms around her.’

An onlooker described Harry and Natalie as looking ‘really happy together’, with another saying, ‘Harry was naughty around Natalie; he pinched her bum and laughed at one point. But they were affectionate too, Harry called Natalie "Angel" several times and she played with his hair.’

While Harry and Natalie had not been seen at a public event together before Friday, Grazia can reveal that the couple have a private spot where they can meet without any danger of being discovered by the paparazzi - a tucked away cafe in Windsor where Natalie lives (and where his grandmother, obviously, has a home!). ‘He likes it there because it’s very low-key,’ said an insider. ‘They’re very conscious that people will see them together.’

Prince Harry’s romance with Natalie has put paid to rumours he was involved with TV presenter Caroline Flack, whose previous relationships with notorious womanisers Russell Brand and Noel Fielding made her an even more unlikely Royal girlfriend than Natalie. Sources close to the Prince are saying the relationship with Caroline was never serious. A friend told Grazia, ‘It was just a fling.’

Meanwhile, Natalie, who first found fame in her role in Neigbbours at the age of 16, has been linked to a string of suitors since her four-year marriage to singer Daniel Johns ended at the beginning of 2008 - including Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill. She’s seen most often with comedian David Walliams, who recently described her as his ‘ideal woman’. In an interview with Radio 4 he said that both Natalie and Kate Beckinsale were his dream women because ‘they are amazing, so much fun, and they’re so amusing and naughty and beautiful’. He added: ‘When I’m with them I turn to jelly because they’re so exciting to be with, but neither of them would ever go out with me, so I can’t. Natalie always makes it very clear that we could never be anything more than friends.’

Despite only being close friends since February this year, Harry and Natalie have moved in similar social circles for some time. They share mutual friends in Richard Branson’s children Sam and Holly, and often attend the same events. According to one friend, Harry has ‘had his eye’ on Natalie for years:

‘It’s no secret that Harry has always fancied Natalie and their relationship has been slowly building since they first met. They’re in regular contact - they send texts and meet up when they can. They have a laugh when they’re together and he thinks she’s gorgeous.’

Some reports have hinted that Harry has been keen to resurrect his relationship with Zimbabwe born 23-year- old Chelsy Davy. However, she’s said to be seeing property boss Dan Philipson, 33, and friends say the Prince is having too much fun now anyway. ‘Harry is having the time of his life right now,’ said a close source. ‘There are always going to be feelings between him and Chelsy but, for the moment, they’re both exploring different things.’