THE world's media gathered at RAF Brize Norton today to greet Britain's best-known soldier.

Prince Harry touched down at the Oxfordshire airbase after being forced to cut short his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Prince, 23, arrived on an RAF Tristar troop transporter plane, from Kandahar, along with 170 other passengers - most of them soldiers he fought with in the Taliban hotbed of Helmand province.

He was met at the base by his father, Prince Charles, and brother William.

Harry, a Blues and Royals Cornet' or Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry, was flown out from Afghanistan last night for his own safety, after details of his deployment were leaked by a foreign website.

The Prince was approaching the end of his three-month tour but flew back early over fears that he, and other British soldiers, would be put at risk following the breach of the media blackout.

Harry's flight, which was delayed for two hours, touched down in bright sunshine shortly before 11.30am, after first flying to Birmingham, where injured troops were transferred to hospital.

There was no pomp or ceremony for the Prince's arrival.

He disembarked wearing his desert fatigues and body armour, along with the other soldiers.

Dozens of photographers waited patiently for him to appear on the steps - behind about 50 other soldiers.

The Prince ignored the media scrum and looked relaxed as he talked to another soldier, while they made their way to the terminal building - where his father and brother were waiting.

After collecting his own rucksack, the third-in-line-to-the-throne emerged from the departure lounge with Princes Charles and William, still carrying his own kit, which he placed in the boot of an Audi, before being driven off.

After greeting Harry, Prince Charles said he was "enormously proud" of his son and said he now understood what the families and loved ones of soldiers endured when they were serving abroad.

He added: "As you can imagine it's obviously a great relief as far as I'm concerned to see him home in one piece."

It has emerged that Prince Harry was stationed in the Musa Qala area of Helmand, alongside members of Oxfordshire's 7 Rifles. The Prince's task was to call in air strikes against enemy positions.

The 7 Rifles, a territorial infantry battalion, are largely involved in providing protection for other units, protecting medical teams and guarding strategic positions, including Musa Qala.

Among Oxfordshire's soldiers fighting in the area, is Rifleman Carl Alford, 23, from Headington, Oxford.

His stepfather Kevin Gunning, said: "Harry is a brave lad and I admire him for going out.

"But I'm glad he's back, as his presence there could have endangered lives - including our son's - as much as his own.

"It was a total shock to hear he had been out there. Carl had spoken to Harry a couple of times out there, but didn't let on.

"Obviously some people knew it, but the media did very well to keep it quiet."

Army spokesman Chris Fletcher said: "The fact the plane called in at Birmingham first, to allow the wounded to be taken to hospital, underlines the fact that Harry was treated as any other soldier. Nothing special was laid on for him."