Prince Harry is to be withdrawn from Afghanistan after news broke of him serving there on the front line.

The 23-year-old royal, who has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province, is to be flown back to the UK amid concerns for his safety.

The move follows the collapse of a news blackout deal, after foreign media leaked the story.

There had been fears the prince, who is third in line to the throne, could become a target for the Taleban.

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In a statement, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but that contingency plans for such a leak were in place.

It added that while the prince should have returned "in a matter of weeks" with his Household Cavalry regiment battlegroup, the situation had now "clearly changed".

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