Prince Harry paid an emotional tribute to his fallen "friends" as he returned to Afghanistan to lead a remembrance service.

Appearing on behalf of the Queen, the 30-year-old laid a personal wreath at Kandahar airfield inscribed with the handwritten note: "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. They will never be forgotten. Harry."

Earlier this year, three British troops from Prince Harry's former Army unit were killed in the UK's worst helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Yesterday, troops in Kandahar and Kabul paused in silent vigil to the more than 450 British servicemen killed fighting the Taliban during the UK's 13-year military stint in the country.

The final British troops are due to be pulled out of Afghanistan by the end of the year as operations in the country wind down.