Prince William has expressed his desire to fight on the Afghanistan front line and his frustration over his inability to join British troops battling the Taliban.

Talking during a TV documentary about his visit to Africa this summer, the second-in-line said:

"My heart was in the Army and that's why I first joined them. It's just a pity I didn't get to Afghanistan.

"There are some slightly valid arguments as to why not, but many of them are hyped up. I still have hope and faith and a real determination to go out there. 

"Harry and I are very laid-back anyway, we don't want to be mollycoddled, we don't want to be sort of kept away from everything."

The 28-year-old completed his first shift as an RAF search and rescue helicopter co-pilot earlier this month and wishes to serve in Afghanistan before the last British troops withdraw in 2015.

Prince William's Africa will be shown on Sky 1 at 8pm on Wednesday.

Photo: © Rex