Prince Harry denies he privately blasted war crimes witch-hunt against British troops as a ‘joke’

PRINCE Harry has denied he privately blasted the war crimes witch-hunt against British troops.

The Sun said the Prince, an Army officer for 10 years, told pals the investigations by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team were “a joke”.

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But a spokesman said yesterday: "Prince Harry is passionate about work to support veterans and it will be a cause he champions for the rest of his life. He will always have been proud to have worn an Army uniform and knows first-hand the sacrifices servicemen and women make to protect their country.

"Prince Harry was painted positively by the paper in this story, but thinks it's only fair that people know the facts.

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"He has not expressed views on this topic to anyone and he does not believe it would have been appropriate for a member of the Royal Family to have done so. This was very clearly communicated to The Sun prior to publication.

"Prince Harry does not comment on issues like this because to do so would actually undermine his ability to support veterans both in the UK and overseas."

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Prime Minister Theresa May last month raised concerns over the ''industrial scale'' of claims lodged with Ihat, which has considered claims relating to more than 1,500 individuals, ranging from ill-treatment during detention to assault and death by shooting.

Some 326 cases have been settled, with the payment of around £20 million in compensation, but concerns have been raised about servicemen facing investigation even after having been cleared of wrongdoing by criminal courts.