Robbie Williams counts Princess Beatrice as his 'little sister'

Robbie Williams thinks of Britain's Princess Beatrice as his "sister".

The Take That star has become close to the 22-year-old royal through her mother, Sarah Ferguson, and even invited them to stay with him and his wife, actress Ayda Field, at their Los Angeles mansion.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Robbie gets on really well with Beatrice. He treats her like a little sister and looks after her. It's really sweet.

"A few of Robbie's football pals were around the other week and Fergie was just wandering around in her robe. She came and said hello and was really charming."

Robbie and Sarah, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, met earlier this year when they were introduced on a yacht belonging to mobile phone tycoon John Caudwell, while holidaying separately in the Caribbean.

A source said: "Robbie and Adya really hit it off with Fergie. They were all on John's yacht and chatted for hours about all sorts. Robbie's been telling everyone how much he likes her.

"Robbie likes having Sarah around and said she could stay as long as she liked."

Recently Sarah - who has not been invited to this month's wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton - revealed she had "learned to love herself" after a series of personal setbacks, including near financial ruin.

She said: "I have learned to love myself. If you've been called fat and ugly and lots of names when you're growing up, as I was, you believe it the whole of your life."