Harry completes training to become troop leader

Prince Harry has become an Armoured Reconnaissance Troop Leader after finishing his latest round of training.

The royal Army officer spent four and a half months learning the ins and outs of Scimitar tanks and armoured tactics.

Harry, 22, completed the course yesterday and will soon return to the Household Cavalry Regiment's Combermere barracks in Windsor to command his troop and settle into barracks life.

Harry, who has been dating girlfriend Chelsy Davy for some time, will be in charge of about a dozen soldiers.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "He'll take command of a troop of soldiers and armoured vehicles and undertake routine exercises, training and sport.

"That's the normal routine life in barracks."

Harry, a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, is hoping to use his new skills on the front line if his squadron is deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq.

But reports have suggested that the Army is reluctant to send Harry, second in line to the throne, into a war zone.

No decision has been made on future deployments, but the Ministry of Defence admitted there could be situations where it could be too dangerous for Harry to serve.

"The intention is that he will undertake the fullest range of deployment but on occasion there may be some circumstances in which his overt presence might attract additional attention that could lead to an exponential rise in the risk to those he commands," a MoD spokesman said.

Two Household Cavalry soldiers were killed in Afghanistan recently after being ambushed by the Taliban.

The attack happened during a reconnaissance patrol, the job Harry would have to do if he were sent to the volatile region.

Clarence House confirmed that the Prince completed his troop leader training yesterday. He was taught maintenance at Bovington Camp in Dorset, learning how to fix a Scimitar and how to fire its cannon.

He also trained on live firing ranges at Lulworth and finally spent five weeks at Warminster taking part in exercises.