Prince Charles visits troops in Afghanistan

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Britain’s Prince Charles made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Thursday, stopping in the Taliban-infested province where his younger son, Harry, served for 10 weeks until his secret deployment was leaked to the media.

Charles, wearing military fatigues, recalled how much he worried about Harry when he was in Helmand province and sympathized with the families of other British soldiers serving in the country.

“For the families, I know when my youngest son was out here, as a parent you worry the whole time,” Charles told reporters after laying a wreath of paper poppies and white carnations for the fallen at the largest British base in Helmand.

Charles’ one-day visit also took him to the capital, Kabul. Charles crisscrossed Helmand by helicopter, flying over the canals, poppy fields and mud compounds that make up much of the district. He met with local leaders in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, sitting crossed-legged on a cushion as he talked about the situation in Helmand.