Prince Harry named his newborn son after the man pivotal in allowing him to fulfill his life-long dream of serving his country on the front line, according to reports.

Major Tom Archer-Burton, commonly known as 'Archie' among friends, was the prince's commanding officer during his highly secretive tour of Afghanistan in 2008.

He convinced top brass to allow the prince to become the first royal since Andrew during the Falklands war in 1982 to be deployed, having missed out on the Iraq war because of fears he would be a prime target for the enemy.

Prince Harry and Major Tom Archer- Burton of the Burnaby Blue Household Cavalry working at the Thuso Centre for disabled children in Lesotho in 2008

He also brokered a deal that kept Harry's deployment out of the media, commenting afterwards that the prince was 'desperate to join his men.'

The prince was so disgruntled with not being sent to Iraq that he almost quit the army, with Archer-Burton then credited with saving his career.

The bond between the two became so strong, with the 41-year-old having now met most of Harry's family including Meghan, that the couple decided to name the newest royal after the Surrey-born officer, reports suggest.

Last night a source told The Sun on Sunday: 'It's well known in Army circles, and Archie's inner circle, that baby Archie is a nod to him.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their baby son who was born on Monday morning

Prince Harry and 26 soldiers, including Archer-Burton, from the Household Cavalry were in Lesotho working to rebuild a school for children with chronic physical and mental disabilities

The source added that despite the huge honour, the 'incredibly modest chap' wont be 'making a bid deal' out of it.

Major Archer-Burton's bond with the royals runs deep, having attended last May's wedding between Harry and Meghan as well as William's marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011.

The devout Christian will be an example to young Archie, having cycled 120 km through Africa to raise money for charity and rebuilding a school for disabled children in Lesotho with the child's father, Prince Harry, in 2011.

Prince Harry and Major Tom Archer- Burton of the Burnaby Blue Household Cavalry working at the Thuso Centre

HRH Prince Harry smiles as he helps rebuild a school on July 8, 2008 in Buthe Buthe, Lesotho

A journalist who accompanied the men on that trip through Africa commented at the time that Archer-Burton 'is the only man capable of telling Lt Wales (as Harry was known in the army) to do press-ups or stand on one leg for as long as he feels necessary.'

'It's good to be with the boys, and not being shot at,' grinned Harry at the time according to the journalist.

Earlier this week Harry and Meghan, 37, confirmed that the young royal will not be given a title - echoing the no airs and graces sentiment of Harry's time in the military which started at Sandhurst Academy in 2005.

Archer-Burton convinced top brass to allow Harry to become the first royal since Andrew during the Falklands war to be deployed, having missed out on the Iraq war. Harry is pictured during service in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2008

One theory swirling around the child's naming earlier this week was that he may have been named after a cat that the Duchess of Sussex had as a child.

A former close friend of Meghan revealed that the ex-Suits actress and her mother Doria Ragland, 62, had shared a cat named Archie, himself named after the Archie comic the Duchess had once collected as a child.

The Sun also revealed that Meghan may have also agreed the name — which means 'brave' — in memory of her mother Doria's beloved rescue cat.