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Prince Harry is to leave the armed forces this year, the Evening Standard can reveal today.

He has taken the decision to end his active military career after having served two tours of duty on the front line in Afghanistan with distinction.

Harry, 30, plans to focus on his charity work and aims to spend “a significant period abroad” on field projects in Africa.

The Prince, known as Captain Harry Wales in the military, is keen to pursue his interests in “conservation and wildlife”. Until he leaves the forces and in future years, it is also believed he will focus on programmes to aid the rehabilitation of injured service personnel.

But before his active military duties end, the Standard understands he will move to Australia for “several weeks”, seconded to serve with units there. Later he will spend time in New Zealand but not be involved with the military there.

Harry is expected to join his father Prince Charles at the 100th anniversary Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli in April. It is understood he will already have travelled to Australia before flying to Turkey for that significant engagement.

Sources in Australia say the Prince is expected to fulfil several other non-military public duties Down Under.

The Governor Generals’ offices in both countries are understood to be currently working on his programme.

Kensington Palace would not comment on if and when he will leave active service.

But a spokesman said: “Prince Harry is currently focused on his work supporting the Ministry of Defence’s recovery capability programme to ensure those who are wounded, injured or sick have appropriate recovery plans and the necessary support they require.

“It’s a natural progression from the work he did organising the Invictus Games. This involves working alongside case officers in London District’s personal recovery unit and visiting various recovery centres and partner agencies (such as forces charities and the NHS) around the country.”

A senior source told us: “The Prince thought long and hard about his decision to leave active military service but, having served his country on two tours of duty, he felt the time was right to leave. He has loved his time serving.

“Officials are still working on the precise timings but he will leave the military this year after serving Down Under. Before that he will travel to both countries and be based there and is very much looking forward to that.

“The exact timings have not been finalised yet, but are expected to be announced officially very soon.”

Another source said: “Harry just felt it was time for a new chapter in his life. One of his plans is to spend a significant period in Africa working on areas to do with conservation and wildlife.

“He will also focus on his charities and maintain his interests in highlighting the plight of injured service staff.”

The Prince will also continue to represent the Queen on official duties both at home and abroad.

Harry — who completed two combat tours in Afghanistan and spent five months in the cockpit of a helicopter gunship there — has described his role as an Apache pilot fighting the Taliban as “the best experience ever” but ended his flying career last January.

He joined the Army in 2005 after graduating from Sandhurst and pleaded with defence chiefs to be allowed to serve in Iraq. Harry, who is fourth in line to the throne, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals in April 2006. An initial decision to let him serve on the front line was reversed after fears that he might be targeted by insurgents.

For security reasons he was refused permission to deploy to Iraq in 2007. That decision left him devastated and he was said to have considered leaving the Army.

But he was to get his wish to take part in active service, although not in the conflict in Iraq. In June 2007, he trained in Canada in preparation for a tour of duty of Afghanistan.

He became the first member of the royal family to serve in a war zone since Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was involved in flying helicopters during the Falklands conflict.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed at the time that Harry had been sent to Afghanistan as a forward air controller to Helmand province.

In May 2008 he received the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan for his participation in the conflict

Harry had to return home early after foreign websites revealed he was serving in the conflict zone. He retrained as a helicopter pilot and learned to fly the Army Air Corps’ Apache gunship.

After training he served again in Afghanistan for just over four months at the end of 2012 and early 2013 as an Apache gunner with 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps.

In January last year Harry announced he was to quit flying Apaches for a desk job in the Army. He took up the position of SO3 (Defence Engagement).

Prince Harry's military career 11 show all Prince Harry's military career 1/11 Harry quits A TV crew films the prince as he makes early morning checks on his Apache helicopter (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images) 2/11 Harry quits Scrambling to his Apache helicopter at Camp Bastion in November 2012 (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) 3/11 Harry quits Laying a poppy wreath with British troops and service personnel in Afghanistan on Remembrance Sunday last year (Picture: Getty Images) 4/11 Harry quits Placing a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in a cemetery in Virginia 5/11 Harry quits Kitted out in service dress during an event at Lydiard Park (Picture: Jeremy Selwyn) 6/11 Harry quits Walking through the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion during his four months from September 2012 as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images) 7/11 Harry quits Giving a thumbs-up to press after checking over his Apache helicopter during his stint at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan (Picture: Getty Images) 8/11 Harry quits Harry salutes during a rendition of the Last Post at a Remembrance Sunday service in Kandahar last year (Picture: Getty Images) 9/11 Harry quits As a 23-year-old in 2008 during an early tour in Helmand (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) 10/11 Harry quits Sat in the front seat of the cockpit of an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner at Camp Bastion in 2012 (Picture: Getty Images) 11/11 Harry quits Concentrating during a mission briefing (Picture: Getty Images) 1/11 Harry quits A TV crew films the prince as he makes early morning checks on his Apache helicopter (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images) 2/11 Harry quits Scrambling to his Apache helicopter at Camp Bastion in November 2012 (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) 3/11 Harry quits Laying a poppy wreath with British troops and service personnel in Afghanistan on Remembrance Sunday last year (Picture: Getty Images) 4/11 Harry quits Placing a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in a cemetery in Virginia 5/11 Harry quits Kitted out in service dress during an event at Lydiard Park (Picture: Jeremy Selwyn) 6/11 Harry quits Walking through the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion during his four months from September 2012 as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images) 7/11 Harry quits Giving a thumbs-up to press after checking over his Apache helicopter during his stint at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan (Picture: Getty Images) 8/11 Harry quits Harry salutes during a rendition of the Last Post at a Remembrance Sunday service in Kandahar last year (Picture: Getty Images) 9/11 Harry quits As a 23-year-old in 2008 during an early tour in Helmand (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) 10/11 Harry quits Sat in the front seat of the cockpit of an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner at Camp Bastion in 2012 (Picture: Getty Images) 11/11 Harry quits Concentrating during a mission briefing (Picture: Getty Images)

His responsibilities included helping to co-ordinate significant projects. One was the successful Invictus Games, supporting injured service personnel.

When he announced his decision to leave the Army Air Corps last January Lt Col Tom de la Rue, who commanded him in the service, said: “Captain Wales has reached the pinnacle of flying excellence as an Apache pilot, particularly in Afghanistan.

“In the process he has proved to be a real inspiration to the many Army Air Corps officers and soldiers who have come to know him so well over the last two years.”

Prince William left his full-time active armed forces job as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot at around the same age as his brother.

Prince Charles finished his active career in the Royal Navy aged 28 when he relinquished his command of HMS Bronington.