Prince Harry will leave the armed forces later this year, according to new reports. After serving on the front line during two tours of Afghanistan, the British royal is said to have taken the decision to focus on his charity projects overseas. Harry now "aims to spend a significant period abroad on field projects in Africa", the Evening Standard reported on Friday. The 30-year-old Prince, who is known as Captain Harry Wales in the military, is also keen to pursue his interests in conservation and wildlife.
Prince Harry is said to be leaving the armed forces later this year
The newspaper also claimed that before Harry leaves the army, however, he "will move to Australia for several weeks, seconded to serve with units there. "Later he will spend time in New Zealand but not be involved with the military there." It is understood that Prince Charles will join his son in the antipodean country for the 100th anniversary ANZAC Day service on Saturday 25 April. Harry's brother Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge attended the annual dawn ceremony in the Australian capital of Canberra last year during their tour of New Zealand and Australia.
From a young age Prince Harry had an interest in the military
There is also speculation that Harry will later focus on programmes to aid the rehabilitation of injured service personnel, given his previous work with Walking With The Wounded and The Invictus Games. "He is a soldiers' soldier," said Harry's former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton in 2013. "And will bring a spotlight on what's being done to help these outstanding men and women."
The royal will reportedly spend more time working on his projects in Africa
In August 2014 Harry admitted that he was unprepared for the hard reality of war. In a powerful column for The Sunday Times, Harry said during his two tours, one in 2007-2008 and another in 2012-2013, he was "hit" by the horror of what he had experienced. "I had never seen it first-hand," Harry wrote. "By 'it' I mean the injuries that were being sustained largely due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Harry is also a keen supporter of rehabilitation for injured veterans
"Loss of life is as tragic and devastating as it gets, but to see young lads – much younger than me... missing limbs... was something I never prepared myself for." Harry, who made a surprise return to Afghanistan for Remembrance Day in November 2014, worked his way up to the rank of Apache co-pilot gunner during his time in the forces.