Prince Harry returned to Britain Saturday after some Web sites leaked out news related to his deployment in Afghanistan. Harry, who is third in line to the British throne, has been withdrawn from the frontline in Helmand province a few hours after the news began to spread all over media.

The defense officials called for an emergency withdrawal of the Prince from the frontline, fearing that worldwide media coverage of his deployment would endanger his life as an individual soldier and his fellow soldiers, Reuters reports.

The 23-year-old Prince, who has been serving as second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, arrived at about 11.30 am in a military plane at the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in central England, where he was welcomed by his father, Prince Charles, and his older brother, Prince William.

Wearing his combat fatigues and carrying his kit and body armour over one shoulder, Harry got off the plane talking to a comrade, completely ignoring the photographers and reporters gathered to immortalize his return home.

Harry was reportedly very disappointed when learning about his hasty return home, as the Afghan deployment was his opportunity to put into action his military training. Moreover, this was a chance for him to be a “normal person.”

Prince Harry’s mission in Afghanistan was highly praised by the Queen and by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Times reports that Prince Charles, Harry’s father, said that he is “enormously proud” of his son, and expressed his relief to see him safe and sound.

“As you can imagine it’s obviously a great relief to see him home in one piece,” he said.

He added that the media disclosure was very “frustrating” for him. He underlined the fact that his son would have wanted to complete the 14-week mission and return home with the rest of his regiment.

Prince William, who has been learning to fly a RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, is expected to serve in the Royal Navy on a warship.

Harry’s mission in Afghanistan began in December 2007, and was supposed to end in April 2008.  The British defense officials have agreed with the British media and a few international outlets to keep the mission secret in exchange of photos and videos of Harry’s daily activity in Afghanistan, which were to be published on his return.

But a U.S.-based web site, the Drudge Report, broke the news on Feb.28, citing Australia’s New Idea magazine and the German newspaper Bild. Other media outlets broke their self-imposed embargo. The situation was called “regrettable” by a defense ministry spokesman.