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Prince Harry asks to fight again

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-29 15:02

The Prince, who is a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, spent 10 weeks on the front line earlier this year before being flown home in February after his deployment was made public.

Prince Harry during his previous deployment in Afghanistan earlier in the year. [Agencies]

He was the first member of the Royal family to go into battle since the Duke of York served in the Falklands in 1982.

At the time the Prince said he would like to return to the front line but it was ruled out for security reasons.

A Blues and Royals source said: "Harry has made no secret of the fact he wants to be there when the regiment returns to the front line next year. With one mission under his belt, he has the skills and experience which will make him an extremely valuable member of the battle group."

Clarence House said there were no plans to deploy the Prince but confirmed he was a committed soldier who was ready to do his duty if requested.

A spokesman said: "Prince Harry is committed to his career in the army and he remains ready to do whatever his required."

The Prince and members of his regiment will resume training at Windsor's Combermere Barracks next week before he begins a two week exercise on Salisbury Plain.

Based at Garmsir, the southernmost point of allied control only 500 metres from enemy lines, Prince Harry was fighting alongside a company of Gurkhas and lived like any British soldier in the deserts of Helmand province.

He survived on army rations and the camp was without electricity, running water or even basic sanitation. However, the 23-year-old relished the experience. "I think this is about as normal as I'm ever going to get,'' he said in one interview.

But his trip was cut short after his presence was disclosed on an internet site, breaking a voluntary media blackout.

In May he was awarded his first service medal for the secret mission which was presented by Princess Anne, his aunt.

This summer the Prince took soldiers from is regiment to Africa to work for a charity he created to help orphans of the Aids epidemic.

The three-week expedition was to support the Sentebale charity, which was set up by the Prince in 2006 in memory of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.