Prince Harry 'wants return to front line'

Published on Friday 29 August 2008 21:40

ROYAL soldier Prince Harry has returned to his regiment after a summer break amid reports that he has repeated his request to return to front-line action.

The 23-year-old army officer spent ten weeks in Afghanistan at the beginning of the year and appears to have reiterated his desire to serve again in a conflict zone. Harry's deployment to Helmand Province was cut short in February when a media blackout was broken by a website that revealed the third in line to the throne had fulfilled a lifelong ambition to fight in the field for his country.

Within minutes of arriving back in the UK, the prince – a lieutenant in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals – talked about wanting to return to Afghanistan.

That request was later ruled out by the head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt.

A regimental source was yesterday reported as saying that when the prince's regiment is deployed to Afghanistan next year he does not want to be left behind.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House dismissed the reports as speculation.