Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, will be withdrawn from fighting alongside his regiment in Afghanistan immediately, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said.

``This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier,'' a spokesman for the ministry said in an e-mailed statement in London today.

Harry, 23, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, trained as a lieutenant in a division of the Household Cavalry known as the Blues and Royals. He later trained as a battlefield air controller known as a joint terminal attack controller. He has spent the last 10 weeks serving in the southern province of Helmand with British forces.

``Whilst it had been intended that Prince Harry should return in a matter of weeks with the remainder of the Household Cavalry Regiment battle group, the situation has now clearly changed,'' the ministry spokesman said, adding that the decision had been taken by army generals.

The prince has been in the British Army since 2005. His regiment had been detailed to serve in Iraq last year. The decision to send him to Iraq was later rescinded by the army following threats from militia in the war zone. His elder brother, Prince William, also serves in the country's military.

News Blackout

A news blackout surrounded the decision to send the younger prince to Afghanistan. British media agreed with Harry's London office not to report the prince's whereabouts to protect his safety and that of British forces.

Yesterday, a U.S.-based Web site, the Drudge Report, broke the news, citing Australian New Idea magazine and German daily newspaper Bild. That prompted other media outlets to break the self-imposed embargo.

The decision by certain foreign media to report Prince Harry's presence in Afghanistan without any consultation with the U.K. government was ``regrettable,'' the defense ministry spokesman said. He expressed ``gratitude'' to the ``responsible attitude'' taken by British media outlets.

There are about 7,700 British troops currently serving in Afghanistan, where 89 military personnel have died in the conflict since 2001.

Last Updated: February 29, 2008 06:52 EST