IN what is likely to change his reputation as a Playboy Prince, Harry has allegedly killed his first Taliban commander in Afghanistan.

The 28-year-old gunship co-pilot unleashed a missile strike to eliminate the terrorist leader in late October, The Sun reports.

Harry has proved to be very popular among his comrades in Helmand, Afghanistan, and has been given the nickname Big H.

A defence insider told The Sun: "Big H is a legend. We were on patrol and the Apache helicopters were called in. We heard this posh voice come over the radio and knew it was Big H. They were tracking a Taliban leader - he was commander level.

"The Apache then let off some Hellfire missiles and its 30mm cannon and 'boom'. It was Big H all the way."

The Royal is a front seat co-pilot, which means he is the mission controller and operates the craft's main weapons. The Apache pilot sits in the back seat under the command of the mission controller and is tasked with manoeuvering the craft. Apaches, also called "mosquitoes" because of their unique sound, are among the world's most sophisticated and deadly helicopters and have terrorised the Taliban for the last five years, The Sun reports.

Harry is on tour in Helmand and has been flying daily combat missions helping "troops in contact", the code given when ground forces are engaged by enemy fighters.

"He's like a normal squaddie," the source told The Sun. "All the guys in Afghan have so much respect for him and love him.

"Big H is a legend, he's been out in Afghan and he's doing the business. All the guys love him - he's Big H. He likes a drink and a laugh and he's one of the lads."

However, news of the strike reveals the danger Harry is in on the front line. Prince Charles recently spoke of his anxiety for his son at The Sun's Military Awards. Charles, 64, said: "The younger one is at this moment in Afghanistan. Fortunately, he rings me every now and then.

"And from time to time I've even persuaded him to write me a letter.

"Because, I keep saying, if you write me a letter and not just an email or a text or something, in 30 years' time or 40 years' time that will be interesting history."

Prince Charles said: "I just make this point because I really do understand the worry of service families when their loved ones are away serving in somewhere like Afghanistan. It's almost easier for those serving away than for those left behind because you worry all the time.

"So I do appreciate the extraordinary resilience and the unbelievable support provided by the families back here who encourage and remind their loved ones that they are there for them, despite what they are having to put up with."

Harry's recent tour of duty is the second undertaken by the prince in Helmand. Harry secretly served 77 days on the front line between 2007 and 2008 before switching to choppers.

In 2011 he passed the gruelling Apache fliers' course and was deployed in September. After 18 months of rigorous training, Harry was also crowned his class's Top Gun pilot in February.

Harry is the first Royal to serve in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who served for more than 20 years as a Royal Naval officer and flew as a second pilot in Sea King helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War.

Andrew and Charles' father, Prince Philip, was in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and the Queen, then 18, also served in uniform during World War Two.

Originally published as Prince Harry 'kills Taliban chief'