Prince Harry has acknowledged that he killed Taliban insurgents during his most recent tour of duty in Afghanistan as a crew member of an Apache attack helicopter.
The 28-year-old flew on scores of missions with his finger on the trigger of the helicopter's rockets, missiles and 30mm cannon.
Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, spoke to media in which he shared his experience during a four-month tour at NATO forces at the Camp Bastion military base in the southern province of Helmand.
"Take a life to save a live," he shrugged. "That's what we revolve around, I suppose. If there's people trying to do bad stuff to our guys, then we'll take them out of the game, I suppose.
"The squadron's been out here. Everyone's fired a certain amount.
He said he had come under fire, adding: "Yes, you get shot at. But if the guys who are doing the same job as us are being shot at on the ground, I don't think there's anything wrong with us being shot at as well."
The Taliban had said it would do its utmost to kidnap or kill Harry during his tour, and an Afghan insurgent warlord labeled him a drunken "jackal" out to kill innocent Afghans.
Harry's job as an Apache co-pilot was to man its weapons system when his 662 Squadron unit flew sorties in support of ground troops fighting Taliban or accompanying other helicopters on missions to evacuate casualties.
Prince Harry is the first member of the Royal Family to see active combat since his uncle, the Duke of York, fought in the Falklands War.
