Secret's out: Harry's in Afghanistan

Last Modified: 28 Feb 2008
By: Alex Thomson, Sue Turton

A US website reveals Harry's deployment in Helmand following weeks of media secrecy. But should his commanders bring him home now?

Critical to the army's plan to deploy Harry to the Afghanistan frontline was the understanding the British media would not reveal the fact.

The plan was that Prince Harry would serve out the rest of his tour and return with his regiment in April.

And for weeks the media kept quiet about Harry's deployment to Afghanistan but now the secret has been revealed courtesy of a foreign website.

But will the decision to maintain the news blackout undermine any trust there may be between the media and the public?

Watch Alex Thomson's report

Should a royal go to war?

Ever since Prince Harry joined the army there's been a debate about whether his ambition to serve as an ordinary officer can ever be achieved.

A possible deployment to Iraq was shelved last May after it became public.

But since he was deployed in secret to Afghanistan in mid-December, Prince Harry, a junior officer with the Household Cavalry Regiment, has been in frontline positions on attachment initially with the Ghurka regiment.

He spent the first five weeks of his tour in the southern region of Helmand province at advanced base in the town of Garmsir.

He then rejoined his regiment in the north of the province and has continued to operate in Helmand province with British forces.

Watch Sue Turton's report

The Harry debate

Harry in Afghanistan raged both on air and in our email inbox. Read some of the thoughts from viewers here.
Read more

Harry's army dreams come true

While his older brother is touring the armed forces in preparation for a future role as commander-in-chief, Prince Harry has always expressed an ambition to be treated as just an ordinary soldier.

His uncle Prince Andrew was 22 when he went to war in the Falklands. Harry is not much older.

Watch Nicholas Glass's report