Royal Watch News

Prince Harry's South Pole plans

Jan 31, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Prince Harry

Britain's Prince Harry wants to trek to the South Pole.

The 28-year-old royal - who has just got back from Afghanistan after fighting on the frontline for 20 weeks - is keen to join a group of wounded service personnel to race across the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth when they embark on their journey in November.

The six adventurers, who are part of Harry's charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), have undergone vital medical checks ahead of their expedition and they hope the prince can make it.

Ed Parker, co-founder of WWTW, said: 'As the patron of the charity, Prince Harry has been able to give us a huge amount of support, and to hear he is hoping he can come along is fantastic news.

'I know he is very keen to come out with us.'

The team of six - five amputees and a serving soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - will eventually be whittled down to four who will race against similar groups from the US and around the Commonwealth to reach the Pole.

As part of their preparation, each team member had their height, weight, lean muscle mass, fat mass and skin fold thickness measured. They also underwent an assessment of lower back strength and oxygen consumption.

The team will be setting off for the South Pole in November for a four-week trek during which they will travel a total of 335km while pulling 70kg sledges or pulks.

The money raised from the trek will go towards helping wounded servicemen and women for careers outside the military.