Prince Harry to embed with the Australian army in Sydney, Darwin and Perth

LOCALS in three Aussie capital cities might be lucky enough to share a drink with royalty this month when Prince Harry embeds with the Australian army.

09/11/2003 Prince Harry in Corporate box drinking a beer and watching the England v Wales Rugby World Cup at Suncorp Stadium.

LOCALS in Sydney, Darwin and Perth might be lucky enough to share a drink with royalty this month, when Prince Harry embeds with the Australian army.

But it’s unlikely they will actually know the royal is in town with defence remaining tight-lipped on when Prince Harry will actually be in each city.

Prince Harry, known as Captain Wales, will next week begin a month long attachment to the Australian army, including a stint with the SAS in Perth.

He will also spend time with the indigenous NORFORCE in Darwin and the 6th Aviation regiment.

Prince Harry, who flies apache helicopters in his role in the British forces, may even be given the chance to fly an Australian aircraft if he passes all the training requirements.

In action ... Prince Harry makes early morning checks on an Apache helicopter at the British-controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on December 12, 2012. Pic: WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry will wear his British military uniform during his attachment.

As part of his duties he will take part in helicopter and aviation exercises, bush patrols and urban training exercises.

He will also extend some of his voluntary work with injured veterans and examine how Australian injured return serviceman are treated.

“Captain Wales hopes to learn a huge amount and is grateful to the ADF for the varied and memorable program they have put together,” a spokesperson said.

“He is looking forward to getting stuck into his attachment immediately.”

He said Prince Harry had been wanting to organise the attachment for the past two years but due to logistics and his military duties at home it was unable to be organised until now.

Prince Harry would have an “ongoing” relationship with the British forces beyond the end of his active service and so hoped that what he was able to learn throughout the attachment would benefit the British army.

Free to socialise ... Prince Harry drinking a beer and watching the England v Wales Rugby World Cup at Suncorp Stadium in 2003.

On duty ... Prince Harry, Honorary Air Commandant, visits RAF Honington in 2014. Pic: Paul Edwards - WPA Pool /Getty Images

Defence today said Prince Harry will be free to socialise with his army mates and even the locals when he embeds with the Australian army.

“As per the normal arrangements Captain Wales will be free to leave the base during his duties,” Defence officials said.

Prince Harry has been in the British Household Cavalry for 10 years and ends his active service in June after taking part in his Australian attachment.

“Prince Harry is tremendously looking forward to starting this attachment,”a spokesman for the prince said today.

“He is here as Captain Wales, not as Prince Harry,” a Defence spokeswoman said.

He will finish up his attachment in the second week of May before flying on to New Zealand for an official visit.

Prince Harry will also take leave in the middle of his attachment to attend commemoration services in Gallipoli with his father Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.

Fun and games ... Prince Harry playing a computer football game with his fellow Apache Helicopter Pilot Capt Simon Beattie during their shift at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in 2012. Pic: WPA Pool/Getty Images

His said Prince Harry had served alongside Australian Armed Forces in Afghanistan; met them during the Invictus Games; and even trekked to the South Pole with a couple of Australian Soldiers.

“He’s been to Australia twice before so he knows he’s in for a great experience,” he said.

Prince Harry arrives in Australia on Monday and will only conduct one official public engagement during his month-long stay.

He will visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Monday to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier and tour the WWI, WWII and Afghanistan galleries.

Prince Harry will also greet the public during his visit to the war memorial.

He will meet with the Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin and other senior defence personnel shortly after the War Memorial visit and officially report for duty.

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove will also get the opportunity to meet the Prince on Monday.

It is not certain if the Prime Minister will attend the event.

Ladies’ man ... Prince Harry greeting the public at Campbel’s Cove in Sydney as part of his visit to the Harbour City for the Australian Royal Navy's International Fleet Review in 2013.

Originally published as Prince Harry to embed with the Australian army in Sydney, Darwin and Perth