Harry 'top target for terrorists'

The 23-year-old army officer said he accepted the possibility that home-grown extremists sympathetic to the Taliban could try to "slot" him on his return.

But Harry, who has been fighting the Taliban for the past two-and-a-half months in Helmand Province, shrugged off the danger saying that, as a member of the Royal Family, he was used to threats.

And he rejected the idea that he would have to beef up his own security on his return to Britain.

He even joked that he would fend off any attackers with his army issue pistol or a Gurkha kukri knife he was given as a present after serving alongside a company of the legendary Himalayan fighters during part of his time in Afghanistan.

British troops who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan have been targeted by Islamist extremists in the UK.

It was also reported recently that allied intercepts of Taliban radio communications picked up some speaking in what appeared to be Birmingham and Yorkshire accents.

Speaking in a joint press and television interview in Helmand - parts of which can be reported now that the news blackout has broken - Harry, admitted for the first time that he could be at risk.

"Once this ... comes out, every single person that supports them will be trying to slot me," he said. "Now that you come to think about it it's quite worrying."

He went on: "I think there's a lot of guys here who hopefully won't be targeted but ... now everyone will know I'm out here no doubt I'll be a top target."