Prince Harry snowed in at Antarctic base camp

Prince Harry (right) and his fellow trekkers in skiing training ahead of their journey. Picture: PA

The South Pole Allied Challenge teams had hoped to take part in some skiing training to help acclimatise, but a snowstorm and very high winds left them largely confined to their basic accommodation blocks at Novo.

Their departure date to the second base camp at 87 degrees south is also likely to be moved from today to tomorrow at the earliest.

To pass the time the frustrated teams from Britain, United States and the Commonwealth have been resting and unpacking and repacking the kit they will take on the 200-mile trek.

The Walking With The Wounded 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 have overcome life-changing injuries and undertaken challenging training programmes to prepare themselves for the conditions they will face in Antarctica.

Trekking around 10 to 15 miles (15-20km) a day, the teams will endure temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees celsius and 50 mph winds as they pull their 11 stone (70kg) sleds, known as pulks, towards the southern-most point on the globe.

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

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