Mission complete: Prince Harry and his fellow adventurers make it to the South Pole after completing gruelling 200 mile trek

  • Harry says they hope to reach South Pole on Friday 13th - 'lucky for us'
  • Spirits are high after decision to suspend competitive element of the trek
  • Some 12 injured service personnel are taking part in WWTW expedition

By Rebecca English

PUBLISHED: 08:19 EST, 13 December 2013 | UPDATED: 12:54 EST, 13 December 2013


Prince Harry celebrated a marathon charity trek to the South Pole with a group of injured servicemen yesterday, declaring: ‘I think we’ll be having a few whiskies tonight!’

Sporting a fulsome ginger beard after his three gruelling weeks on the ice, the royal was full of praise for his teammates, all of whom have suffered terrible injuries fighting for their country, including one soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan.

‘It will just prove to everybody that there’s so much that can be made possible when you think that nothing is left,’ said the prince.

Video of arrival below...

Prince Harry and fellow adventurer Ivan touch the South pole today: After more than three weeks pulling sleds across the frozen wastes of Antarctica the group stood at the bottom of the world at midday

Prince Harry and fellow adventurer Ivan touch the South pole today: After more than three weeks pulling sleds across the frozen wastes of Antarctica the group stood at the bottom of the world at midday

Heroes: The adventurers include 12 servicemen and women from the UK and other nations who have suffered terrible injuries, including the loss of limbs

Heroes: The adventurers include 12 servicemen and women from the UK and other nations who have suffered terrible injuries, including the loss of limbs

Achievement: Their trek took them more than 200 miles across the continent to the geographic South Pole

Achievement: Their trek took them more than 200 miles across the continent to the geographic South Pole

'The feeling is incredible,' said Ed Parker, the expedition's director and co-founder of the Walking With The Wounded charity that organised the challenge

'The feeling is incredible,' said Ed Parker, the expedition's director and co-founder of the Walking With The Wounded charity that organised the challenge

The Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied challenge saw three teams of servicemen – from Britain, the Commonwealth and the US – racing to reach the bottom of the world.

The teams travelled a distance of 208 miles across some of the most inhospitable conditions known to man, with temperatures of up to minus 50 degrees and biting winds.

 

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Every man and woman was also forced to carry a custom built arctic sledge known as a pulk, weighing in excess of 11 stone, carrying their kit.

The terrain was so challenging that last weekend organisers were forced to suspend the race element of the trek and group all the competitors together for safety. 

Teamwork: Prince Harry with Heath Jamieson (left) during the expedition. The royal and the other adventurers are nearing the end of their gruelling 200-mile trek across Antarctica with their goal almost in sight

Teamwork: Prince Harry with Heath Jamieson (left) during the expedition

Such was the camaraderie, however, the men and women linked hands as they walked the last few yards of the route to stand together at the bottom of the world at 12.48pm.

Army air corps pilot Harry, who was also patron of the expedition, said from the ice afterwards: ‘Every single one of these twelve deserves it. All twelve of them have different reasons for being here….but I’m so proud, I’m so chuffed, I’m so privileged to be here with all these guys and girls. What an amazing accomplishment.

‘I think we’ll be having a few whiskies tonight and then everyone’s looking forward to getting home. Mission success!’

He went on: '[The team] has dug out blind to get here, Duncan you know, it’s just remarkable the fact that someone with no legs has made it here, and to have done it in record breaking time, no doubt.

'This will just prove to everybody that there’s so much that can be made possible when you think that nothing is left'

 Prince Harry, at the South Pole today

'And Ivan as well, when I look across I see him being guided around you know, totally blind, from America, and absolutely hates the cold, and you know he’s not doing it for himself, he’s doing it for his buddies back home, and that goes for everybody, every single one here.

'It’s not just for the small minority that are here but hopefully in time to come through the documentary, and all the stories back home.

'It will just prove to everybody that there’s so much that can be made possible when you think that nothing is left.'

The teams will spent another two nights camping out on the South Pole before they can be flown out back to base camp. Harry aims to be back in the UK on December 23, just in time for Christmas.

Happy: Prince Harry said spirits are high after the decision to suspend the competitive element of the trek

The teams encountered difficult terrain which forced organisers to suspend the competition last weekend and make the expedition a group effort over safety fears, as some competitors were becoming very tired

Taking a break: Prince Harry (left) and Team UK as they rest during the Walking With The Wounded trek

Victory: Prince Harry and his fellow adventurers have reached the South Pole, organisers of the Walking With The Wounded charity trek have announced

It is hoped their remarkable achievement will raise £2 million for the Walking With The Wounded charity, which supports injured ex-servicemen and women.

Ed Parker, the expedition's director and co-founder of the charity, said: ‘We always knew that this wasn't going to be easy, but that is what makes the challenge so exciting.

‘Our aim was to show that, despite injury, young men and women from our armed forces can still achieve great things.

‘We came down here, determined to get 12 men and women, all injured in conflict, to the South Pole, and this is what we have done. The feeling is incredible.’

Harry and his team mates were accompanied by two other celebrity supporters, English actor Dominic West, star of The Wire, and Alexander Skarsgard, of hit US series True Blood.

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So I'm the only one who misread the title as "South Park" and thought that the guy wearing red was cosplaying Cartman.

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...all that money that was spend on the 'event', could have been donated to the wounded soldiers instead!!

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He's one tough guy. Well done to him and the whole team.

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Great job! Here is to wishing the very best to all of our heroes and their families throughout the rest of their lives. Freedom, is not free, thank you.

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A fantastic adventure and an achievement in this life. You know you've made it when you reach that barber's shop pole!

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So it says they will be flown back to base camp, I wondered how they were going to get back, on their own or what! An amazing feat for all of them, great of Harry to join, what an accomplishment!

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As someone who wasn't so long ago an anti-monarch, I'm actually very proud of the generation within the royal family we have today - lots of slating about how much it costs the taxpayer but I believe that mostly William and Harry have got their hearts in the right place, assist people because they want to and yes, they have the persuasion because of who they are but they're out there in the thick of it and doing as much as they can! Very pleased we don't have the sort of royalty that abuses it's people like some of the middle east .. ours actually DOES work for them!

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How dare you call Harry a parasite? I'd like to see you walk to the bottom of the world - you're so spineless you'd never make it!

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Great job guys!

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What they have done is quite laudable but no soldier maimed on duty for his country should have to rely on any charity to live out their lives in civvy street. In fact I find it quite sickning that our government cares nothing for those that were willing to make an ultimate sacrifice for our country but forces them to make them to hold their hands out for a charitable donation

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