Princes plan Operation ER ... that's Easy Rider, as Wills and Harry plot 1,000-mile African motorbike trek

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The title is more than a mischievous nod to their grandmother – it is also a tongue-in-cheek reference to two classic motorbike-related movies.

ER stands for Easy Rider, the iconic 1969 road movie which celebrated the hippy counter-culture and featured several scenes of drug-taking; while Queen is a tribute to Steve McQueen, who famously jumps a bike over a border fence in The Great Escape before being captured by the Nazis.

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Easy riders: How Harry and William might look during their road trip

Prince Harry came up with the idea for the trip, in aid of orphans with HIV and Aids in Lesotho, after actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on a similar – but much longer – trip for their TV series, Long Way Down.

The Princes' route has not been finalised but it is expected to take in Lesotho and South Africa – where Harry's on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy has two homes.

However, drivers in the remote part of the country are frequently hijacked.

The Foreign Office also warns armed carjackings are on the increase in Lesotho, and other dangers include poor or non-existent roads, local drivers' disregard of traffic rules and roaming animals.

The Princes' trip is expected to take place in June, when they both have leave from the military.

They will travel with TV crews as well as at least six protection officers, at a cost to the the taxpayer of more than £100,000.

A friend of Harry's said: "Chelsy has been helpful and encouraging about the trip.

"She has travelled a lot in South Africa and hopes she and Harry might have some time together out there once he has completed the journey.

"Kate Middleton, on the other hand, is rather put out by the whole thing.

"She feels excluded because she can't help in the same way Chelsy can and is annoyed William is choosing to spend some of his valuable leave away from her."