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Prince Harry rejects 'hero' label

Other News Materials 2 March 2008 15:07 (UTC +04:00)
Prince Harry rejects 'hero' label

( BBC ) - Prince Harry has insisted he is not a hero and hailed the "humbling" bravery of his fellow soldiers after flying home early from a tour of Afghanistan.

In a wide-ranging interview, he spoke of the experience as among the happiest of his life and of his desire to return to the front line "very, very soon".

He also suggested a precedent may have been set enabling his brother, Prince William, to see active operations.

Harry's tour of duty was cut short after a media blackout broke down.

The leak led to fears he would be targeted by the Taleban and he was returned to the UK after 10 weeks.

On Saturday, he landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where he was met by Prince Charles and Prince William.

Speaking moments after his arrival, he dismissed the label, emphasising instead: "The bravery of the guys out there was humbling."

I'm looking forward to having a bath... but no, I would like to have stayed back with the guys

Prince Harry

No quick return for Harry

"I wouldn't say I'm a hero," he said.

"There were two injured guys who came back on the plane with us who were essentially comatose throughout the whole way...those are the heroes, those were guys who had been blown up by a mine that they had no idea about, serving their country, doing a normal patrol.

"I was a bit shocked ...it is a bit of a choke in your throat because you know that it's happening.

"There's a lot of time when you are actually in theatre it isn't even mentioned that much."

He also talked about the rigours of his job and his role fighting the Taleban.

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