PICS: The Royal prince's deployment in Afghanistan

Britain's Prince Henry, commonly known as Prince Harry, the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, after an education at various schools around the United Kingdom, eschewed a university education in favour of following in the footsteps of various royal men by enrolling in the military.

Harry was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Regiment -- serving temporarily with his brother -- and completed his training as a tank commander.

On 7 September 2012, Captain Wales as he is known in the military, arrived at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan to begin a four-month combat tour as a co-pilot and gunner for an Apache helicopter.[On 10 September, within days of arriving in Afghanistan it was reported that the Taliban threatened Captain Wales' life.

He served for 77 days on the front line in the Afghanistan war, although he was pulled out following publication of the story in an Australian magazine. He returned to Afghanistan for another tour of duty in 2012 and returned from a 20-week deployment on January 21, 2013.

Harry is seen on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base), in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Rediff.com brings you a collection of photographs taken during Prince Harry's deployment in Afghanistan

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Harry (right) attends a mission briefing in the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan in this photograph taken on October 31, 2012.

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Harry is seen on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir close to forward operating base Delhi, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

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Harry races out from the very high ready-ness tent with his fellow crew, to scramble his Apache helicopter at Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan.

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Harry (back row, centre) poses for a photograph with Lance Corporal Frankie O'Leary (back row, left), Corporal of Horse Paul Carrington (back row second left), Lance Corporal of Horse Chris 'Dougie' Douglass (back row second right), Lance Corporal Steve 'Geri' Halliwell (back row, right), and drivers 'GV' (front row, left) and Max, in Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan February 20, 2008.

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Harry (right) plays a computer soccer game with fellow Apache pilot Captain Simon Beattie at Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan in this photograph taken on November 3, 2012.

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Harry wears a Santa Clause hat as he stands outside the very high readiness tent at Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan.

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Harry cleans the kitchen work-top during his 12 hour very high ready-ness shift, at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion southern.

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Harry lines up for food behind fellow Apache pilot Simon Beattie in the dining facility at Camp Bastion, southern.

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Harry plays a game of Uckers with fellow pilots in the very high ready-ness tent at Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan.

Uckers (also known as CHESTY when played by Royal Air Force Air crew) is a two- or four-player board game traditionally played in the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, and Royal Australian Navy.

 It is believed to originate in the 18th/19th centuries from the Indian game Pachisi although the first reference to it in print does not appear until 1946.

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Harry stands by his Apache helicopter in Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan in this photograph taken on October 31, 2012.

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Britain's Prince Harry plays rugby during a break from duties, in Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan.

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Harry (left) directs an Afghan man around a British Army cordon, with the help of an Afghan interpreter, in the desert in Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan.

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Harry mans a 50 calibre machine gun on the observation post at JTAC Hill, close to forward operating base Delhi, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

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