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Prince returning from Afghan tour Prince returns from Afghanistan
(about 4 hours later)
Prince Harry is on his way back to the UK after a news leak led to him being withdrawn 10 weeks into a deployment to the front line in Afghanistan. Prince Harry has returned to the UK after being withdrawn 10 weeks into a front-line deployment in Afghanistan.
The 23-year-old left on a flight on Friday evening amid concerns he would be a Taleban target if he stayed. He landed at RAF Brize Norton on a troop transport plane at 1129 GMT with about 170 personnel, most of them having completed their tours of duty.
His tour had been the subject of an agreed news blackout by some media, but news was broken by a foreign website. The Prince of Wales and Prince William were at the military airbase in Oxfordshire to meet the 23-year-old.
The Prince of Wales and Prince William will meet Harry when he arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. His tour was cut short after a news blackout broke, leading to fears he would be targeted by the Taleban.
Harry said he was enjoying being in Afghanistan, away from the British media. Front-line posting
Speaking before his withdrawal from Helmand province, the third-in-line to the throne said he would relish another front-line posting. Speaking before his withdrawal from Helmand province, Prince Harry said he was enjoying being in Afghanistan and away from the British media.
"It's something I would love to do," he said. The prince also said he would relish another front-line posting.
"It's something I would love to do," said the third-in-line to the throne.
HAVE YOUR SAYPrince Harry is a trained soldier. I'm in the service too and I'm pleased for him that he was allowed to goDeborah, Hampshire, UKSend us your comments
"I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers.""I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers."
'Taste of life' Brize Norton station commander, Gp Capt Malcolm Brecht, said Prince Harry was one of many soldiers returning home at the same time.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has refused to be drawn on press speculation that his brother, Prince William, will be deployed on board a warship after his Royal Navy training later this year.
"It's our intention to give Prince William as full a taste of life in the Royal Navy as possible, which may include time on board a warship," a spokesman said.
"It's MoD policy not to discuss details of any individual's deployment or service".
Brize Norton station commander Malcolm Brecht said Prince Harry was one of many soldiers returning home at the same time.
He told BBC News: "There's nothing special today actually, this is routine.He told BBC News: "There's nothing special today actually, this is routine.
HAVE YOUR SAYPrince Harry is a trained soldier. I'm in the service too and I'm pleased for him that he was allowed to goDeborah, Hampshire, UKSend us your comments
"We have pretty much daily flights from Iraq and Afghanistan and he's one of many passengers coming back through here today, between 700 and 800. We look forward to welcoming them all back.""We have pretty much daily flights from Iraq and Afghanistan and he's one of many passengers coming back through here today, between 700 and 800. We look forward to welcoming them all back."
Prince Harry, who was secretly sent to Afghanistan in December, was ordered out of the country by defence chiefs on Friday. Foot patrols
He was put on a troop transport plane with about 170 personnel, most of them returning home having completed their tours of duty. Prince Harry was sent secretly to Afghanistan in December but was ordered out of the country by defence chiefs on Friday.
The Household Cavalry officer was picked up from manoeuvres and flown to a base at Kandahar to join his flight back to RAF Brize Norton, where he is expected to arrive just before 1000 GMT. He was based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment, and his role involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but said that contingency plans for such a leak had been in place.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in consultation with the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had taken the final decision to withdraw Harry immediately, it said in a statement.
"This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier."
Queen's praise
Prince Harry had been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment.
Work involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols.
The Queen, opening the Queen's Court Care Home in Windsor on Friday, said she believed her grandson had done "a good job in a very difficult climate".
THE EDITORS' BLOG A news black-out is unusual, but not unique Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in fullTHE EDITORS' BLOG A news black-out is unusual, but not unique Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full
The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout deal struck between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. The Household Cavalry officer was picked up from manoeuvres and flown to a base at Kandahar to join his flight back to the UK.
It is understood that the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it had appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout in a deal struck between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad.
In exchange for not reporting the prince's deployment, some media organisations were granted access to the prince in Afghanistan for interviews and filming. The agreement broke down after the story appeared on influential American website The Drudge Report.
The prince's withdrawal is the second major blow to his army career. The MoD has refused to be drawn on press speculation that Harry's brother, Prince William, will be deployed on board a warship after his Royal Navy training later this year.
Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of fears about his and his colleagues' security.