Prince Harry secretly courting pop star Ellie Goulding after pair ‘canoodle at polo’

PRINCE Harry is secretly courting pop star Ellie Goulding, The Sun can reveal.

The pair spent the night canoodling at the recent Audi Polo Challenge, with one onlooker saying it looked like they shared a kiss while under a blanket.

The royal and Anything Could Happen singer have also been swapping regular flirty texts in recent weeks.

A source close to Harry’s social circle said: “He has told friends how much he likes Ellie and she is clearly taken by him.”

Harry, 31, and Ellie, 29, have been friends for ­several years, growing close after she performed at brother William’s wedding.
She was at the closing ceremony for Harry’s Invictus Games in 2014. And they were “all over each other” after the polo at Coworth Park, Berks.

It is also the same event Harry got close to Doctor Who actress Jenna Coleman at last year.

The royal insider added: “Harry got Ellie’s number a while ago and got in touch.

“They’d always got on very well through their various meetings after she was the wedding singer at Kate and William’s wedding reception.

“But things stepped up a gear and they had been in touch in recent weeks and their first really public meeting since was at the polo.

“It turned into a real party late into the night and there was a complete ban on taking pictures so Harry and the other celebrities there could feel comfortable.

“Harry was really going for it after the polo – he was drinking and dancing.

“They were part of a wider group including Tom Hardy.

“But Harry and Ellie only had eyes for each other all night – they spent a lot of time sitting together under blankets.

“They were seen having a kiss before Harry had to go because he was playing polo the next day. Ellie left about five minutes later.

“Harry was overheard on the way out telling some friends how much he liked her.

“But there’s already a lot of talk amongst friends that the palace wouldn’t allow her as a serious girlfriend because of her celebrity background.”

Society magazine Tatler described the event as a “riot of fun” attended by a “chino-wearing, summer dress-clad crowd”.

The posh mag added: “Everyone was suitably sloshed (thanks to being plied with espresso martinis since their arrival).”

Ellie – one of Britain’s most successful popstars – has close links to the royals having performed for them on more than one occasion.

She stunned guests at Kate and William’s wedding in 2011 and said previously of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: “I’m friends with them, so it’s not like it’s awkward because I don’t know them. So that’s fine.”

She was also asked to perform at Prince Harry’s 30th birthday party in September.

And in 2014 she wowed Wills and Kate at the Royal Variety Show in a 600ft dress as she sang How Long Will I Love You and Explosion.

Both stars have had mixed love lives.

Ellie’s most serious boyfriend was McFly bassist Dougie Poynter – with whom she had talked about marrying. But they split earlier this year.

Before that she dated Radio 1 host Greg James for a year and a half – before brief flings with One Direction star Niall Horan and chart-topper Ed Sheeran.

Harry’s most serious relationship was with Zimbabwean-born Chelsy Davy, who he had an on-off six year relationship with until 2010.

He then quietly started dating aspiring actress Cressida Bonas in 2012, but they broke up after two years after an argument about attending best pal Guy Pelly’s wedding.

After the split the royal was seen cosying up to Doctor Who actress Jenna, whose ex boyfriend is Game of Thrones star Richard Madden.

Neither Kensington Palace nor representatives for Ellie responded when approached by The Sun for comment earlier today.