Prince Harry defends gay soldier from homophobic attack

A gay British soldier claims that Prince Harry once saved him from a homophobic attack while the two were stationed in Canada for a training exercise in September 2008.

Trooper James Wharton says he was confronted by six soldiers after he was heard bragging about "scoring" with another officer. He claims that he sought Prince Harry's help because he was his tank commander and that the prince did not hesitate to come to his aid.

"I told him, 'I think I’m going to be murdered by the infantry.'" he said, adding that Prince Harry responded, "Right I’m going to sort this [expletive] out once and for all.

"He climbed out of the tank and I poked my head out of the turret a few moments later to see him having a go," Wharton said. "I could see he wasn’t holding back."

According to Wharton's recount of events, Harry briefed a senior officer after the incident and then returned to tell Wharton the situation had been "sorted."

Wharton, then 21, says he will always be grateful toward the prince and will never forget what happened. He quit the military last year.

Wharton's affirmations are detailed in a book he wrote about his ten-year military career titled "Out In the Army."