The younger Prince of Wales is ready to settle down with his longtime girlfriend Cressida Bonas, according to friends. 

The Telegraph reported that Prince Harry is looking forward to taking the next step like his brother Prince William and will soon pop the big question to Bonas. 

"Cressie is going to marry Harry," one of Bonas's friends told The Telegraph, adding "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."

Prince Harry first met the 24-year-old British socialite in May 2012 by his cousin, Princess Eugenie of York, and was said to be "smitten."

But Bona's friends also said she is overwhelmed. 

"Cressida has been in floods of tears," one of her friends said.  "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."

When Prince Harry was sent to serve in Afghanistan in November, him and Bonas engaged in regular telephone contact throughout his four-month posting.

Prince Harry has made it no secret that he is ready to settle down, telling Katie Couric last year that "I've longed for kids since I was very, very young."

"I'm just waiting to find the right person, someone who's willing to take on the job."

Enstars reported back in February 2012 that the two were photographed spending some quality time together while vacationing at an exclusive report in Verbier, Switzerland, during an annual ski trip to celebrate his uncle Prince Andrew's 53rd birthday. 

The couple reportedly "kissed like lovestruck teenagers" while at dinner with Prince Harry's family.