Royal Watch News

Prince Charles worries about Prince Harry in Afghanistan

Dec 7, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Prince Harry

Britain's Prince Charles fears for Prince Harry's life in Afghanistan.

The 64-year-old royal worries about his youngest son while he performs his military duty as an Apache helicopter pilot in the war-torn country and says he 'really understands' how difficult it is for families whose loved ones are in the armed forces.

Speaking at The Sun newspaper's Military Awards last night (06.12.12), Charles said: 'As you can imagine, being a parent of two boys in the armed forces, I do share with you the worry and anxiety of not knowing the exact details about our children's whereabouts.

'It's a bit different for me, if I want to see what my children are up to, I look at the front page of The Sun.'

Harry's elder brother, Prince William, juggles royal commitments with his job as an RAF pilot in Anglesey, North Wales, but the father-to-be's line of work is far less dangerous than his 28-year-old party-loving sibling's.

In his emotional speech, Charles confessed he is particularly anxious about Harry's safety and he often urges his son to put pen to paper and keep him up-to-date by letter as he thinks it will make 'interesting history' in years to come.

The royal heir said: 'The younger one is at this moment in Afghanistan. Fortunately, he rings me every now and then. And from time to time I've even persuaded him to write me a letter.

'Because, I keep saying, if you write me a letter and not just an email or a text or something, in 30 years' time or 40 years' time that will be interesting history.'

Charles also thanked the 'unending relentless courage' of British forces in Afghanistan, adding: 'When you think what they're doing, it is truly remarkable.'