Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles have got matching tattoos of a children's TV character.

The 'Lego House' hitmaker took the One Direction singer along to the tattoo parlour when he was getting inked with a picture of Pingu - the titular penguin character from the 1980s claymation series - on his triceps, and he managed to convince his 19-year-old pal to get a similar tattoo done.

He told MTV News: ''I got that [tattoo] with Harry Styles, he got Pingu [written under his arm]. Kinda like a bro tat.

''I mentioned it; he was like, 'Alright then.' ''

Ed also sports the word ''Prince'' in green-block letters on his bicep to show his appreciation for 1990s US sitcom 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air', and he revealed Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule of pop duo Rizzle Kicks got similar designs while the group were supporting the flame-haired singer on tour in Philadelphia.

He added: ''I played in Philadelphia and I was on tour with my friends, Rizzle Kicks, who were my opening act. I got 'Prince,' Jordan got 'Fresh' on his leg, and Harley got on his arm 'on the playground where I spent most of my days.' ''

What's more, Ed - who has several tattoos over his body - explained his inking of Antonio Banderas' 'Shrek' character Puss in Boots on his forearm is about his song 'Wake Me Up', in which he talks about his love for the 2001 computer-animated fantasy-comedy.

He explained: ''Puss in Boots relates to a song called 'Wake Me Up' where I talk about 'Shrek'. Plus, I like cats.''