AN increasingly detailed portrait of a prince on the frontline has emerged at the end of a week which saw him provoke a barrage of criticism after making comments which seemed to compare shooting Taliban insurgents to playing video games.
Fresh details have emerged of how Prince Harry relaxes watching war films and enjoys an endless supply of snacks and chocolate.
A look inside the communal tent where the 28-year-old royal unwinds with his fellow Apache pilots reveals that far from choosing some light relief to distract them from the daily stresses of battle, the soldiers watch films including Platoon, Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket.
Neatly arranged on the shelf under the aircrews' 32-inch television in the VHR (Very High Readiness) tent, classic war movies, action-packed thrillers, gangster films and the odd comedy line up. Among the collection were the Daniel Craig James Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace, and the first three Bourne films starring Matt Damon.
The third in line to the throne attracted the ire of everyone from the anti-war lobby to the mujahideen last Monday after an interview with him was broadcast to coincide with his return to the UK following the end of a five-month deployment in Afghanistan.
The PR exercise backfired as the prince spoke of taking enemy fighters "out of the game" and said it was a "joy" to operate the weapons system on his £45 million Apache helicopter, adding that prowess with his thumbs was honed on playing Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Outside, a mural of the Grim Reaper clutching a bloodshot eye decorates the blast wall behind an attack helicopter's parking position. Beneath the image of a night sky over the Afghan mountains is the squadron's motto, Death Dealing Eye, a translation of the Greek phrase Olethrion Omma. Apache helicopters are pictured hovering among the shadowy clouds.
Once finished, the piece – expertly painted by a member of the squadron – is likely to feature the names of the aircrews and ground engineers involved in Harry's 20-week deployment to Helmand Province, including the prince himself.
The latest details paint a picture of the prince far from the luxuries of palace life as he is consigned to a shift of tea-making servitude as the "Brew Bitch", at the beck and call of bell-ringing comrades, in punishment for losing the daily round of Uckers, a traditional military board-game.
"Whoever loses that becomes the Brew Bitch, and then you have to make brews for everybody all day," Harry said.
As the prince and the three other pilots kick back, eat chocolate, tune in to the radio and swat at the incessant flies, they are surrounded by reminders of the war they are fighting – their benches are propped up on empty ammunition boxes; overhead is a camouflage net giving some much-needed shade; empty shell cases are used for ashtrays.
Within arm's reach is always the "shout" telephone, which triggers a dash to the helicopters.
At dinner time, Prince Harry joins his comrades at the Camp Bastion cookhouse, queuing up to pile hearty "scoff" onto a paper plate. Far from the drink-fuelled hedonism of his infamous Las Vegas holiday, he washes his meal down with water – alcohol is banned on the base.
At the end of each table lie piles of SA80 rifles – troops must be within arm's reach of their weapons.
Outwith mealtimes, Prince Harry and his fellow Apache pilots are never left hungry. The aircrew have an endless supply of snacks and drinks, which Harry revealed were often swapped with the American troops in neighbouring Camp Leatherneck, allowing the British pilots to get their hands on fresh ground coffee, Hershey's chocolate and M&Ms.
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