In a startlingly frank TV interview, Prince Harry today revealed that he is pining for children of his own and would love to have “someone else next to me to share the pressure.”

The 30-year-old Prince may be the object of a million fantasies, not to mention overly-amorous stalkers, but he has had terrible luck when it comes to love.

His most serious relationship, with Chelsy Davy, came to an end when she decided she could not bear the prospect of royal life, and his most recent girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, split with him just days after their first public appearance together.

Speaking to Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills in New Zealand, where he is on tour, the young royal said: “There come times when you think now is the time to settle down, or now is not, whatever way it is, but I don’t think you can force these things, it will happen when it’s going to happen.

“Of course I would love to have kids right now but there’s a process that one has to go through and tours like this are great fun, hopefully I’m doing all right by myself, it would be great to have someone else next to me to share the pressure, but you know, time will come and whatever happens, happens.”

The comments will recall remarks Harry made in a US TV interview when he said he was looking for someone to fill the “role” of royal wife.

Harry missed the birth of Princess Charlotte, and said he had avoided watching news reports of the birth.

“I didn’t see any coverage at all. He [William] sent me two photos, one before everybody else, which was nice, and then another one with her back with George back home, so I’m so looking forward to seeing her, to meeting her and to holding her. She was a little bit late, hence I missed her, so she’ll have to work on that, but apart from that it’s fantastic news for both of them so I’m thrilled.”

Harry also spoke about how having a regular job—e.g. in the military—keeps him and his brother grounded.

“This part of the role [royal duties] is fantastic but I and William, both of us feel as though we need to have a wage as well to work within normal people, to keep us sane, to keep us ticking along and also surely in the future from our point of view, if we want to make a big contribution, or a valid contribution and be taken seriously, then we need to work alongside other people.”

But it will be his lovelorn siren call for a partner that wil make headlines around the world.