By Bridget Johnson, your guide to Journalism

Prince Harry has become the first British royal to serve in combat since Prince Andrew’s Falklands tour (and the first to serve on the ground since World War I) — and the British government tried to keep it under wraps. After months of concern that Harry’s service would come at exceptional risk to him and his regiment — the Taliban had specifically said that the death of Harry would be a great coup for their cause — the Drudge Report leaked the fact that Harry’s had indeed been in combat since December:

“British Royal Prince Harry has been fighting in Afghanistan since late December — and has been directly involved in gun battle, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.


The prince, a junior officer in the Blues and Royals, and third in line to the throne, has been a ‘magnificent soldier’ and an ‘inspiration to all of Briton.’


Prince Harry is taking part in a new offensive against the Taliban.


Ministry of Defense and Clarence House refuse all comment. Army chiefs have managed to keep the prince away from media and have encourage fellow soldiers in his squadron to stay quiet.”

After the story broke, U.K. officials did release tape of Harry serving in Helmand Province, a seriously rough-and-tumble region of Afghanistan. From the AP:

“‘I got here on Christmas Eve. And going from bullet magnet to anti-bullet magnet, most of the guys were pretty bummed that I was here because nothing was happening for the first few days that I was here. But things are picking up again now because it’s obviously quite boring when nothing is happening,’ Harry said in one video.


Although he is still in Afghanistan, military chiefs are angry over the leak and are considering if he should be moved. Tours to Afghanistan usually last six months, but Harry has served just 10 weeks.


‘I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue,’ said the army’s commander, Gen. Richard Dannatt.

Of course, the British media are now all over the story, including The Sun tabloid:

“Taliban fanatics were last night feared to be hunting down Prince Harry after he secretly fought in the Afghan badlands for ten weeks.


The 23-year-old Household Cavalry lieutenant killed up to 30 of the enemy on his frontline tour by directing at least three air strikes.


…He had already left Garmsir for another desert area, known to The Sun.


Some officers claim this will protect him. But others insist his war is now over.


One senior military source said: ‘WeÂ’re going to have to bring him home immediately.


‘We have to expect that every fanatical fighter in 1,000 miles of him will be pulling out all the stops to find him.’


Even once home, Harry could remain a target for Taliban sympathisers.


He admitted: ‘Every single person that supports them will be trying to slot me.’”

I agree that Harry is definitely a target. Terror groups place high priority on targets with special symbolism. But I’m also impressed how he’s held his own in combat, especially since to this point he’s basically made his name as the party-boy prince.

(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)