On Thursday the Drudge Report leaked information that Brittan’s Prince Harry, 23, has been serving with his military unit in Afghanistan since December. The media had agreed to keep his deployment private, since knowledge of his whereabouts would endanger his life. Harry is a cornet, which is the equivalent to a second lieutenant in the U.S. He was in Afghanistan as a forward air controller with the Joint Tactical Air Control. Not too shabby for a guy who used to be most known for little more than his hard partying. Harry said that he was glad the British press had stuck to their end of the bargain, but was pretty disappointed that the foreign press had given up his whereabouts. Within an hour of the leak, Harry was on his way back to England – four weeks shy of the end of his deployment.

“I didn’t see it coming, obviously it’s a shame,” the 23-year-old said. ” I am so disappointed, I thought I could see it through to the end and come back with our guys and the colonel himself.”

He added, “I suppose I think deep down inside it would be quite nice to have a bath … but, no, I’d like to still be out there with the guys … I would love to go back out. I want to go out very very soon.”

On Saturday, Harry said he was “surprised by the way the British media kept to their side of the bargain and … I am very grateful to that.” He added, “At the same time it doesn’t surprise me that once again it came down to media, foreign media, that’s once again spilled the beans.”

[From CNN]

Prince Charles said he gained new respect for how hard it is for families to have children serving overseas. He said he was glad to have Harry home, but also disappointed that his tour had been cut short. CNN reports that within a short time of the news leak, messages were posted on several Islamist Web sites “alerting their “brethren” in Afghanistan to be on the lookout for the royal soldier.”

The prince is apparently back with his girlfriend, Zimbabean student Chelsy Davy, 22. She left school in Leeds to join Prince Harry and his family for a celebration on Saturday evening. Harry has gotten a lot of positive press for going to Afghanistan – he certainly could easily have gotten out of it if he wanted to. It took a lot more effort for him to make it work. He was not allowed to go with Iraq, as it was deemed too dangerous. As a result, most people assumed he wouldn’t be allowed to serve anywhere in the Middle East. Both he and the army obviously went to great lengths to get it to work. Prince Harry has said he hopes to be able to go back, and plans to continue his military career. He’s certainly turned into a man his mother would be proud of.

Here’s Prince Harry patrolling the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB (forward operating base) Delhi in Helmand Province on January 2nd, eating a a boil-in-the-bag lunch in the desert in Helmand Province on February 19th, and returning home at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England on March 1st. Images thanks to WENN.