Prince Harry reunited with Gurkha who guarded him in Afghanistan

15 March 2017

Prince Harry has been reunited with the Gurkha who guarded him during his first tour of Afghanistan.

Prince Harry

The 32-year-old royal met with Major Chancre Bahadur Pun during a medal giving ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday (14.03.17), which honoured the soldiers for their work in bringing peace to Kabul.

Major Pun showed Prince Harry a number of photos of his time in Afghanistan, where the pair worked closely together in 2008 when Harry served in Helmand Province.

One photograph showed the Prince at the home of Major Pun, who is said to have taught the royal how to properly eat goat curry without the aid of cutlery.

The pair were reunited at the ceremony - led by Prince Harry's father Prince Charles, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Gurkha Rifles - which saw 150 Gurkha soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles presented with operational service medals.

Speaking to the soldiers, Harry said: "Your forefathers would be most proud of you here today, continuing to demonstrate the traditions and achievements that together ensure the worldwide reputation of the Gurkhas as the best soldiers."

Whilst Prince Charles, 68, said: "I recall my first visit to the 2nd Goorkhas in Hong Kong in 1979 where, among other memorable moments, I was initiated into the deadly art of eating snake for the first, and only, time in my life.

"I see, as I look around, that there are a number who witnessed that event who are here today."

Prince Charles and Prince Harry also used the medal giving ceremony as an opportunity to present awards in particular to Lieutenant Michael Barney, 25, from Grantham, and Acting Colour Sergeant Raj Rai, 34, from Nepal, in recognition of their efforts to the regiment over the last year.