Prince Harry arrives for Antarctic charity trek

Prince Harry arrives in Novo, Antarctica. Picture: PA

The three teams competing in the Walking With the Wounded charity trek were seen off by friends and family ahead of flying from Heathrow Airport last weekend.

The royal, other supporters and the dozen injured personnel arrived at the Novo airbase in Antarctica this afternoon, where they are expected to stay for the next couple of days to acclimatise to the Antarctic weather and make final preparations for the trek, which is due to begin next week.

The teams spent the majority of the afternoon making adjustments to their kit, which had been dispatched to the base weeks earlier.

They are due to rest tonight ahead of skiing training tomorrow.

The Virgin Money South Pole Allied Challenge 2013, of which Harry is patron, will see the participants race across three degrees to the South Pole.

All 12 injured service personnel from Britain, America, Canada and Australia have overcome life-changing injuries and undertaken challenging training programmes to prepare themselves for the conditions they will face in Antarctica.

Trekking around 15km to 20km per day, the teams will endure temperatures as low as minus 45C and 50mph winds as they pull their 70kg sleds, known as pulks, towards the southernmost point on the globe.

They hope to reach the geographic South Pole by December 16.

The UK Team Glenfiddich have been joined by Harry, Team Soldier On from the Commonwealth counts actor Dominic West among their number, while the US Team Noom Coach line ups alongside actor Alexander Skarsgard.

Each team also has a mentor and a polar guide.

Each team will represent and raise funds for military charities from the constituent nations: Soldier On from Canada, Soldier On from Australia, Soldiers to Summits from the US and Walking With The Wounded from the UK.

• Double amputee Scots soldier bidding to make the Pole