The 23-year-old Prince, who is third in line to the British throne and has earned fullsome prise from many, including grandmother Queen Elizabeth II for his effort, was put on a troop transport plane with about 170 personnel.

"We can confirm that Prince Harry left Afghanistan earlier this evening (Friday). He is now on his way home to the United Kingdom," a Defence Ministry statement said.

His commander Brig Andrew Mackey said that the Prince ‘acquitted himself with distinction’, but Harry, who became the first royal family member to serve in a warzone since his uncle Prince Andrew participated in the Falklands War in 1982, is ‘frustrated’ at the turn of events.

"He is frustrated about coming back and leaving his friends behind. But he is realistic and understands the ways of the world," an unnamed royal official was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

"He hopes he can go back as his presence went undetected for 10 weeks. He feels he played a real role over there."

The Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said that Harry's elder brother, Prince William, second in line to the throne, is also likely to deployed on board a Royal Navy battleship.