By DPA
London : Prince Harry is to be withdrawn from military service in Afghanistan with immediate effect, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Friday.
A statement said it was “regrettable” that the decision had to be taken after “foreign media” leaked the news of the prince’s 10-week combat mission in Helmand province late Thursday.
The prince, 23, third in line of succession would be withdrawn “for reasons of his own security and the security of those deployed with him,” said the statement.
The decision came after top-level consultations involving the army chief of staff and senior generals.
US website Drudge Report broke the news of the prince’s current mission late Thursday, after British media had adhered to a news blackout agreed with the government.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Britain was proud of the prince’s frontline service in Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand province.