Prince Harry is due to return to his regiment's barracks in Windsor

The prince learned armoured tactics and how to fix a Scimitar tank and fire its cannon, during four-and-a-half months at Dorset's Bovington Camp.

Harry, 22, a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, has qualified as an armoured reconnaissance troop leader.

He is now expected to return to the Household Cavalry Regiment's Combermere barracks in Windsor.

'Range of deployment'

The prince also spent five weeks at Warminster taking part in exercises and trained on live firing ranges at Lulworth.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "He'll take command of a troop of soldiers and armoured vehicles and undertake routine exercises, training and sport.

"That's the normal routine life in barracks."

THE SCIMITAR A light, agile reconnaissance vehicle Crew: 3 Combat weight: 8,000kg Length 4.9m, height 2.1m, width 2.24m Maximum speed: 80kmph

Harry, a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, had hoped to use his new skills on the front line if his squadron was deployed overseas.

But the Army has decided not to send Harry, third in line to the throne, into a war zone.

The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, announced the decision not to send him to Iraq because of specific threats relating directly to the prince and his men.