Harry excused boots for blisters

Royal sources say Harry is not the only cadet to have had treatment

Prince Harry has been excused from wearing his heavy boots at Sandhurst after suffering agonising blisters.

The 20-year-old, undergoing basic training at the Surrey Royal Military Academy, developed weals on his feet during a gruelling five-day exercise.

Operation Self-Reliance reportedly required him to endure 10-mile yomps through Ashdown Forest in East Sussex carrying a heavy back pack and rifle.

Royal sources say Harry is not the only cadet to have visited the infirmary.

He was apparently granted special dispensation to wear trainers after he asked medical staff to dress his wounds and they saw how bad the blisters were.

Cadets are normally barred from wearing any footwear except for their boots, which are provided several months in advance so they can break them in.

Knee injury

The prince's entry into Sandhurst was delayed from earlier in the year to allow a knee injury to recover.

He had been due to enrol at the college in January but injured his knee while training with the Army ahead of his test during the summer.

He aggravated the injury in October while coaching children for the Rugby Football Union.

Other famous figures who attended Sandhurst include the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Michael of Kent and Sir Winston Churchill.

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