So, H.R.H. Prince Harry of Wales is currently hanging out in the Arctic with some amazing and admirable men. Who are these men and why is Prince Harry in the Arctic you may ask? Well, the red-headed and not always bright prince decided to part-take in an “…expedition to the North Pole…” with a group of wounded soldiers known as the Walking With the Wounded.
According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph:
The 26-year-old royal attended a briefing after he was greeted by the team from Walking With The Wounded, and heard about his training for the next three days. He is expected to play a full part in the final preparations for the expedition, including sleeping out on the ice and dragging a 100kg sled.
On Friday the prince will fly out to the start point of the 200-mile trek. Asked if he was ready for the challenge, he said: ‘Not as ready as these guys are, but I’m just here to give them as much support as possible. I haven’t had as much time to train.’
He added, jokingly: ‘But today, to their huge amusement, they’re going to see me on a pair of, whatever they’re called, skis, this afternoon. So it should be entertaining for all of us.’
The prince is patron of the Walking With The Wounded charity which aims to raise £2 million from the unaided trek to help other injured servicemen and women find work, peace of mind and security.
During the briefing in Longyearbyen on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, team leader Inge Solheim said polar bears are known to be in the area. One had been chased away from the town just two days ago.
The team will today ski for seven and a half miles (12kms) pulling sleds known as pulks, weighing around 220lbs (100kg). Mr Solheim told the team: ‘It’s going to be around -25C today, so it’s quite mild and good, nothing like we’re going to get in the polar ocean. Hopefully out there we’ll get -35C to -40C with good stable high pressure.’
Harry winced as he heard the extreme temperatures. ‘It’s a little bit cold but the sun’s been quite nice” he said, during a break in the afternoon’s skiing. To be honest with you, I’ve got two working legs and two working arms – although it doesn’t feel like they are working.’
Basically, Prince Harry is doing this arduous and dangerous trek for a good cause. So, well done, Harry! Good luck and don’t make a fool out of yourself whilst in the Arctic there, bud.
To read the rest of the article and to watch a video of Prince Harry in the Arctic please click the link: The Telegraph
To view photos please click the link: Photos galore
Source: The Telegraph Photo courtesy of: Zimbio.com by WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe
The Royal Correspondent 