Prepositions
Prince Harry reaches South Pole on Walking with the Wounded expedition

Prince Harry was planning "a few whiskies" the bottom the world on Friday night to celebrate reaching the South Pole 13 injured service personnel following a gruelling three-week trek.

The 29-year-old royal proclaimed "mission success" as the Walking With The Wounded charity expedition reached their polar destination the eve of the anniversary Norwegian Roald Amundsen first planting his flag 14 December 1911.

So tough were the conditions faced the expedition that the competitive element, which would have seen a UK team race against a US team and a Commonwealth team, was abandoned.

Instead, the 200-mile Antarctic trek saw a group effort the service personnel, who pulled 11st (70kg) sleds, or pulks, and who had all suffered life-changing injuries in conflict.

Speaking 20 minutes after reaching the pole with the team – made up 12 men and one woman – Harry, an army pilot who has served two tours Afghanistan, said it was an "amazing feeling".

"Every single one of these 12 deserves it. I mean, they have dug out blind to get here." Harry added: "Duncan, you know, it's just remarkable the fact that someone no legs has made it here, and to have done it record-breaking time, no doubt". It is understood this is a reference to UK teammate Sgt Duncan Slater, 34, Muir of Ord, who lost both legs in Afghanistan 2009 when his vehicle was blown up an improvised explosive device.

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

Their achievement, said the newly bearded royal, "will just prove to everybody there is so much that can be made possible when you think that nothing is left".

"But I am so proud. I'm so chuffed and I'm so privileged to be here all these guys and girls. I think we'll be having a few whiskies tonight and then everyone's looking forward getting home. Mission success."

The three other wounded service personnel in the British team are Maj Kate Philp, 34, Worcestershire, who lost her left leg after a bomb blast in 2008; Capt Guy Disney, 31, Oxford, who lost his right leg in a rocket attack in 2009; and Capt Ibrar Ali, 36, from York, who lost his right arm a roadside bomb in 2007.

Ed Parker, the expedition's director and co-founder of the Walking With The Wounded charity that organised the challenge, said: "We always knew 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 our armed forces can still achieve great things.

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