The 28–year–old also said he spent his time in Afghanistan wishing for the phone to ring so he could be “in amongst it”.

Last week the Prince was accused of handing a propaganda coup to the Taliban after he talked candidly about killing insurgents and taking them “out of the game”.

Last night, a BBC3 documentary broadcast previously unseen interviews with the Prince, filmed during his 20–week tour of Helmand.

He said: “As soon as we get a shout, whatever it is, we all run to the aircraft, and at that point you have the taste of blood in your mouth.”