March 1, 2008 - Prince Harry has returned to the UK after being withdrawn 10 weeks into a front-line deployment in Afghanistan.

He landed at RAF Brize Norton on a troop transport plane at 1129 GMT with about 170 personnel, most of them having completed their tours of duty.

The Prince of Wales and Prince William were at the military airbase in Oxfordshire to meet the 23-year-old.

His tour was cut short after a news blackout broke, leading to fears he would be targeted by the Taleban.

Front-line posting

Speaking before his withdrawal from Helmand province, Prince Harry said he was enjoying being in Afghanistan and away from the British media.

The prince also said he would relish another front-line posting.

"It's something I would love to do," said the third-in-line to the throne.

I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers."

Brize Norton station commander, Gp Capt Malcolm Brecht, said Prince Harry was one of many soldiers returning home at the same time.

He told BBC News: "There's nothing special today actually, this is routine.

"We have pretty much daily flights from Iraq and Afghanistan and he's one of many passengers coming back through here today, between 700 and 800. We look forward to welcoming them all back."  More