By Luke Baker
LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry flew out of Afghanistan on Friday after news leaked that he had been fighting on the frontline for 10 weeks, defence sources said.
The 23-year-old grandson of the Queen and third in line to the throne left Afghanistan prematurely amid fears for his security and for those soldiers fighting alongside him.
He was sent to Afghanistan in December. But for security reasons and in agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the British media did not report the deployment.
That agreement collapsed after Web sites in Australia, Germany and the United States leaked the news on Thursday.
The ministry said the decision to withdraw him was "taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier".
Harry has been active during his 10 weeks of combat, calling in air strikes against Taliban positions, carrying out foot patrols and firing a heavy-duty machine gun at suspected fighters.
It is the first time a British royal has been deployed in combat since the Falklands war 25 years ago, when Prince Andrew flew helicopters.
After his presence became known, there were heightened concerns he could become a target of the Taliban, al Qaeda or other Islamist militants operating in Afghanistan, endangering the prince as well as fellow soldiers. Continued...
Prince Henry of Wales
Prince Harry has today been ordered to return home, after details that the 23 year old's front line engagement was leaked by an American website.  The details of the Prince's engagement had previously been kept secret by many British and international news agencies, including the BBC and the Associated Press.

The leak of the information was said to be "regrettable" by the Ministry of Defence, however this meant that Prince Harry was ordered to return home due to fears for his, and the others in his unit's safety.  Prince Harry will be flown home "immediately", after 10 weeks of front line service.  During this he worked as a Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) and was involved in major operations on the frontline against Taliban forces.

The media blackout was created to lower the risk to the royal, whilst in service in Afghanistan, and was the first large scale agreement of its kind.  The media groups who signed up to the agreement were rewarded with interviews with the Prince.