Royal Watch News

Prince Harry 'genuinely risking his life' in Afghanistan

Oct 12, 2012, 11:01 GMT

Prince Harry

Britain's Prince Harry has been 'genuinely risking his life' while in Afghanistan.

The 28-year-old royal - who is a qualified Apache helicopter pilot - has been on 'multiple engagements' over the past month while on a four-month deployment at Camp Bastion, the main British and American troop base in Helmand province.

A military source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'He is genuinely risking his life.'

Harry has been using an Apache gunship helicopter - which fires Hellfire anti-tank rockets, air-to-air missiles and has a 30mm cannon, which fires 625 rounds a minute - and he has also been navigating and occasionally steering the chopper.

The gunship - which is nicknamed the flying tank - has been used by UK forces to fight the Taliban, provide support for ground troops and to gather intelligence.

Despite fears about Harry's safety, insurgents have never shot down an Apache in the 10 years allied troops have been flying in the country.

The flame-haired prince's deployment is his second tour in Afghanistan after previously spending 10 weeks fighting in the region in 2007-2008, but he was brought back to the UK when his whereabouts were reported.

Last month, Harry - who is known as Captain Wales while in the Army - was moved to a secure location under guard after a Taliban attack on his base.