Prince Harry has reportedly been forced to leave Afghanistan after news broke that he has been serving in the country with British troops since December.

News outlets had complied with a Ministry of Defense embargo on the Prince's deployment until yesterday, when an item was posted on U.S. website, The Drudge Report.

Defense Secretary Des Browne told Usmagazine.com in a statement: "I am delighted that Prince Harry has had the opportunity to serve on operations in Afghanistan with his Battlegroup. In common with all the other British soldiers in Afghanistan he has done so with courage and distinction. We can be proud of him and all his fellow soldiers - we owe them all a great deal.

"The British media have shown great restraint in not reporting his deployment and I would like to thank them for doing so. It is however a great pity that the news has now been broken by media overseas."

The Ministry of Defense refuses to comment on Prince Harry's current whereabouts, however, a source tells Us: "He has left the base and is en route to another location."

Click here for photos of Harry in action in Afghanistan.