Episode 1 Harry's Arctic Heroes

The Arctic, one of the harshest environments on the planet.

Warm the hands up before they get excruciatingly cold.

Temperatures can sink to minus 50 degrees centigrade,

the wind can reach 110 miles an hour,

and all that's between you and 2.5 miles of ink black Arctic Ocean

are a few thin inches of ice.

If your pole goes in and you're not in your harness, you go to the bottom of the sea.

Careful!

Into this extreme, four wounded British soldiers...

Oh, right on the ribs!

It is quite hard, we're not making a lot of ground.

..two expedition founders...

It's the end of day... Oh, holy cow.

..one polar guide...

We have to be more careful because the pole can run over and break your leg.

-..and one prince...

-No matter who you are, unless you really hate the cold,

this place is amazing.

Together they'll attempt the first unsupported trek to the North Pole

by wounded servicemen.

If successful, they'll set a new world record.

This is the story of their journey,

from the battlefields of Afghanistan

to top of the world.

It's 4.30 am and the Walking With The Wounded team

are landing on the polar ice cap for the first time.

They're 160 miles from the Geographic North Pole,

it's minus 34 degrees centigrade.

A bit of peace and quiet. It's been a while.

It's a nice place. It's quite far to come for some peace and quiet though.

I'm not going to lie, it's a bit far away.

But, hey, amongst friends! What could possibly go wrong?

They've spent many months in training, but out here they're facing the unknown.

This is rather unique.

It's barren, it's oppressive, it's unforgiving.

It's quite surreal.

For an able-bodied person this is one of the toughest challenges on the planet.

For these wounded soldiers the test is obviously far greater.

It's opened my eyes to a whole new world.

Respect to anyone who does this.

Between them they've been blown up and shot.

'I got shot two-and-a-half years ago, the bullet severed my artery.'

They've lost an arm and a leg

and been told they will never walk again.

'I'm missing an ankle and a calf and, for me, it's not holding me back and it won't hold me back.'

Jointly they've had 32 operations and years of rehabilitation to put them back together.

'If you put your mind to it, there's nothing that can stop you.

'What these boys are doing is truly fantastic, it really is.

'To learn more about them, to hear their stories is very special.

'You don't get to meet people like this very often.'

Their incredible journey across the polar ice cap has just begun.

Something I've always wanted to do, probably the biggest challenge out there.

It is a journey fraught with danger.

This will be the single biggest test that I've probably ever had.

But also a journey of recovery.

One, two, three! 'Never quit.

'Never...'

MUSIC: BBC NEWS THEME

Prince Harry helps launch an expedition

by wounded servicemen and women to the North Pole.

But will he go with them?

If my military commitments allow, I would love to join the team.

13 months earlier, and the team are holding their first press conference with their Royal patron.

'Obviously, once I was asked,'

it was a very easy opportunity to say I would love to join this.

It's an opportunity I just couldn't let go.

I don't think anybody else would.

'It's going to be serious for them and nobody should underestimate

'what these guys are putting themselves through

'not just for themselves but for everybody else who's been injured.'

This project exemplifies the tenacity and courage of those who serve our country.

It really is that simple.

It's great to be part of this amazing adventure

and with such a great bunch of guys.

Three months later and the Walking With The Wounded team

are on their first UK training session in Norfolk.

This is the early days of it all.

We'll start off with this and no doubt build up as the year goes on.

The plan is to take four wounded soldiers to the Pole,

but with less than ten months until they depart, and seeing over 100 applicants,

the expedition organisers only have two suitable candidates.

Come on, Grandad, let's go for a walk.

29-year-old, Captain Martin Hewitt was serving with the Parachute Regiment

when he was severely wounded in Afghanistan.

I wanted to join the Forces and I specifically wanted to join the Parachute Regiment.

That was the proudest day of my life when I found out I got in there.

After joining the Army Cadets at 16, Martin went on to serve with the Paras in Afghanistan twice.

It was on his second tour in 2007 that things went tragically wrong.

We had a very good talk before we deployed,

saying, "Listen, lads, about a third of you won't come back."

It was a risk that I accepted.

Martin was leading a platoon of paratroopers during Operation Herrick

when he took a direct hit to his right shoulder.

At first I thought I'd lost the limb

and I first looked around to try and pick it up

but realised it was still attached. It was paralysed.

I knew very quickly it was serious, and I had arterial bleeding.

You could see it coming out, it was very bright red...

blood pulsating out of you in line with your heart beat.

I got my hand in there and tried to clamp the artery shut,

which I was having difficulty doing

and I could feel the life draining out of me.

I felt myself going. You do, feel yourself fading.

I was thinking to myself, "There's no way I'm dying on this desert floor here, not a chance."

The bullet ripped through Martin's shoulder leaving a four-inch exit wound.

It shredded the brachial artery, the main blood supply to the arm,

and severed all the nerves,

leaving the limb paralysed.

Learning to adapt to life with the use of one arm, you can do.

The most difficult battle I've had is the psychological impact

of not being able to do the job I wanted to do and that I loved.

I will not command soldiers on operations again.

You'll notice that Ed's given me and Guy significantly bigger tyres than what he's given himself.

MARTIN LAUGHS

Is it that obvious?

That's about twice the size as everybody else's, it's a radial.

Stop whinging! That's the worst thing about old people, is they whinge non-stop.

For charity founders, ex-servicemen Ed Parker and Simon Daglish,

it's a challenge finding wounded soldiers

that can tackle one of the world's toughest expeditions.

Losing an arm, particularly when doing work around the camp, is a severe restriction.

We've discovered it's difficult finding people who'll be physically capable of doing what we're asking.

It's been highlighted to us, the extent of the challenge we're embarking on.

A lot of what we do is going to be in the mind.

If the mind is confident then we will achieve what we aim to achieve.

I tried this one instead of this,

but this one is very wobbly, so I'm not going to do it.

I'll use this one instead.

28-year-old, Captain Guy Disney, who serves with the Light Dragoons,

lost his right leg in Afghanistan in 2009.

-What was wrong with that?

-It's too wobbly.

-Really?

-Yeah.

I think looking at footage of Afghanistan on the news, you felt

almost a duty to go and do your bit.

On 6th May 2009, the armoured reconnaissance vehicle that Guy was commanding

was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Effectively a jet of molten metal came through the side of the vehicle

and that went through my leg and tragically killed the soldier next to me.

I looked down and it was hanging off, and...

It's almost like when you hold a boot by its laces and swing it,

there were a couple of bits of tendon left.

The bone had all gone and initially it was like, "Christ, that's definitely coming off."

The initial feelings were, you know, "Bugger," if that makes sense.

The RPG, destroyed Guy's leg just below the knee.

Within hours, the doctors in Afghanistan were forced to amputate,

leaving a raw stump that's needed four separate operations to repair.

I couldn't really believe it had happened.

I still felt I was meant to be out there doing the job

and suddenly you're having everything done for yourself, that's a frustrating period.

Trekking to the North Pole in ten months' time

will be Guy and Martin's biggest challenge since being wounded.

Guy and I are still in a state of rehabilitation ourselves.

I've had 13 operations to date, myself.

I'm nothing like as fit at the minute as I was when I got shot.

I've got a long way to go get that level back, but it's coming.

This morning's escapade on the beach was quite punchy.

That was over the top, this morning.

If it's like that on day one, when we're up there, I'm going home.

-I'm stuffed if doing that! I'm telling you right now.

-MARTIN LAUGHS

For Guy and Martin, proving themselves ready to take on the world is important,

not just for them, but for their fellow wounded soldiers.

I know how difficult it is for me to adapt to life with my injury,

I've had soldiers under my command who've come from broken family backgrounds,

who perhaps haven't got any academic qualifications,

who now find themselves in the position

where they have lost both legs, perhaps.

I find it difficult with all the help and support I've got.

God knows how difficult these guys are finding it

and that's where the system, the Forces' charities, the public,

and me, as a serving officer, have a duty of care to do what we can to help.

Every now and then you'll see someone and they'll look at you with the "poor guy" smile or chat.

You know, when the leg's on and I've got a pair of trousers,

no-one would know I've got anything wrong with me.

I think it's to prove to people that

it's not the best thing to have happen in the world,

but there's no reason why it should stop me at all.

Ed and Simon may have their first wounded servicemen,

but time's running out to find two more.

While they continue their search,

Guy's off to in New York with team patron, Prince Harry.

With the Afghanistan War in its tenth year,

they're here to help strengthen military relations,

but also to promote the expedition.

Ladies and gentleman, Prince Harry.

APPLAUSE

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I would just like to steal a few moments of your time

to talk about an important and very serious matter.

It's the welfare of our men and women in uniform,

those who we send out to fight our wars and protect our freedom.

You know, myself and my brother and, I suppose, a huge majority of the British public as well

support these guys in everything they do and always will do, hopefully.

For... I probably speak for William, as well, but mainly for myself,

after doing a very small stint in Afghanistan,

I'd like to think that I've got a rough idea

about what goes on and how they feel.

Good evening. I have to say straightaway, the triage I received and the treatment

has been nothing short of exceptional.

'I met Prince Harry yesterday, it was great to meet him, and the good thing about'

having someone like that coming over,

it just adds so much more credibility to what we're doing.

# Can you see by the dawn's early light? #

Prince Harry and Guy are also taking part in a charity run in Central Park.

HARRY: After seeing the way these guys dealt with it,

if I did go back, I wouldn't have as much fear of getting hit as I did the first time.

I'm not saying I've accepted that if I go out and get shot then that'll be fine.

I'm just saying, to see the way these guys have dealt with it

and the way that every other soldier deals with it back at Selly Oak and Headley Court,

it gives you that feeling of going, "If I do go back and do get hit, I hope I end up like these guys."

# O'er the land of the free

# And the home of the brave. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

No-one wants to get injured, but the guys have accepted that your life's not over,

it's not come to an end, there's other things you can do. Walk to the North Pole, for instance.

The inspiration these guys give to everybody else is unbelievable.

Back in the UK, with only seven months to go,

Ed, Simon, Guy and Martin have come to Bodmin Moor for a training session.

Crucially, they've brought along two more would-be team members.

One of them, a guy called Jaco,

we met for first time in January when we did the selection

and both of us really liked him.

But he was pretty badly beaten up

and then we heard a couple of issues he had, had been sorted out.

That's a lovely spot, it's really beautiful.

So we got him and a new guy, who was blown up in Babaji last year, had his back broken.

This guy, Steve Young, he was told he wouldn't walk again.

He spent about six weeks on a spinal bed, not able to move.

He was back on his feet within four months, which is pretty incredible.

Today will let Ed and Simon know just how well the new boys can cope with a hard physical challenge.

Time is running out for us to get four team members,

so we just hope that these two will be able to stay with us.

The pressure's on a bit, yeah. We've got to get it right.

The youngest prospective team member is 26-year-old South African, Jaco Van Gass.

He was hit by an RPG during a firefight in Afghanistan on his second tour with the Paras.

'I came over to the UK in 2006, to join the British Army.

'I literally just landed'

the Saturday morning and in the Monday morning

I was in the recruiting office signing the paperwork.

For me, serving in Afghanistan was absolutely brilliant. I loved every second of it.

It's a brotherhood that you pick up,

and even the day you leave the Army, you'll always be part of that family.

In the early hours of August 20th, 2009, Jaco's unit was heading out on an operation.

The chopper's came in, we landed on the target.

I just heard a massive noise.

By the time I woke up, I didn't really know what happened.

As I sat up and tried to raise my weapon, that's when I realised that I've lost my arm.

I just sat, flat on the ground and fired a couple of rounds off from my hip.

The amount of blood I lost was ridiculous.

The pain was unbelievable.

There was a point where I think, "Yes, I'm going to die."

That was the point that I lost consciousness and then that was it.

The next time I woke up I was in Selly Oak.

The blast severed Jaco's arm above the elbow,

a third of the muscle on his left leg was blown away.

He suffered extensive damage to his internal organs

and has had 15 operations over the past 12 months.

Going out with my mates again, to the pub, or to a club,

all the girls are interested in them, and then you turn around and you've got no arm, and...

they don't really know what to say.

It was really hard.

There are certain days, I look back and I'm thinking, "Bloody hell, I was in good shape there."

There is something in you that says, "I really wish I could get back to looking like that."

You need to sit down with yourself and realise that you're not a fully able body any more.

You've got certain injuries and certain stuff that happened to you.

The reason why we're doing this, is for other servicemen and women,

to show them that something like this is possible.

Right, next point.

What, that little scarp there?

Yeah, you're going to hit that knoll on the left-hand side there,

so come up the left-hand side of the scarp.

Good to stretch the legs, really.

Haven't tabbed for a while, so it's good to get out and stretch the legs.

I think that's about the first two miles done, another ten to go, so... We shall see.

Sergeant Stephen Young, a 28-year-old Welsh Guardsman, was injured in Afghanistan in 2009.

I was that typical kid running around with a toy gun,

and it has always been my ambition to join the Army.

His fiancee, Emma, has been his bedrock ever since.

It means absolutely everything to him.

I'd love him to have a 9-5 job and come home to me, but it's not going to happen.

On 1st August, as Steve was redeploying back to the front line,

his vehicle was blown up by an IED.

It's not just like hearing a noise - bang.

It travels through your whole body.

I remember being thrown forwards, like face down on the floor.

So I tried getting up, and that's when I felt

a massive, massive intense pain just in my back.

And when I pulled myself up, my legs swung, er,

because I couldn't use them properly, and my back crunched.

I really thought, yep, that's me, I'm dead.

The blast broke Steve's back, causing a complicated burst fracture of the vertebrae

and extensive soft tissue damage.

He was told he would never walk again.

It was 1,001 things going through my mind, a lot of them were selfish -

me walking, me running, me, me, me, me.

Didn't at that stage really think of the family,

which I knew later on it would have had a massive impact on.

The initial finding out was absolutely horrendous,

and I don't think it really hit me until I was driving home

after telling everybody, and I was on the motorway

and I had to pull over because it all hit me at once.

I was flown home then within a day, and when I got back to Selly Oak,

they said, "Look, you will walk again, but with a frame for life."

Unless someone's actually got this sort of injury,

you don't understand, you don't realise how much it affects you on a daily basis.

It's just a constant ache.

-But you learn to deal with it.

-You just adapt, don't you?

Yeah, yeah, that's it, yeah.

After 15 miles slogging across Bodmin Moor,

both Steve and Jaco have impressed the organisers.

It's really great having Jaco and Steve with us.

Jaco is... To see him here now

is I think the essence of everything we're trying to show people.

So yeah, I think we could have our team.

But there are still challenges to overcome.

Steve - he's a great guy, he's definitely got it mentally.

His back's a bit sore now, if you look at him walking, he's a little bit tentative.

So it's important he gets that strong.

There are ongoing concerns for all the wounded soldiers, but with the team complete,

at least they can begin preparing for everything the North Pole will throw at them.

I'm getting excited now.

I haven't had that feeling for three years now, since I been shot.

This is the first time I've got that kind of excitement that I used to get

every week in work, so it's good, getting back in the game.

Albeit doing something completely different.

But yeah, it's all good, mate.

As of July 2011,

1,712 service personnel have been injured in Afghanistan.

Four months later, and the team are doing

a photo shoot for GQ magazine, to raise the profile of the expedition.

The shoot's with one of Britain's best-known photographers, David Bailey.

Bailey, a keen supporter of the Armed Forces,

is donating his services for free.

Who did the artwork at the back, the Apaches?

I nicked that, someone had painted it on the wall, so I photographed it and nicked it.

'It's pretty amazing having your photo taken by David Bailey.'

It's brilliant that he's taken the time to do it.

-And you were stationed...

-I was only here for about...

-Three days?

-Three or four days, yeah.

Yeah, taking them in and dropping the new ones off.

I'm not a very photogenic person, I don't take a good picture.

It doesn't matter if it's on a mobile phone or David Bailey,

I don't think I'll look that good on picture.

It's not only a chance to have their portraits taken by one of the world's best-known photographers,

it's also a chance to spend some time with their patron, Prince Harry.

We're very fortunate and humble to have him on board -

and it'll be good to meet him.

He's trying to help us raise the profile of the charity

and raise as much money for the charity as he possibly can.

He's met some of them before,

but this is the first time that the full team has come together.

We can hopefully get to know him a bit, so when he comes up,

he's not meeting a bunch of strangers.

We all sort of know each other already.

Very excited to meet him and to socialise a bit with him.

I'm just happy to be here with them

and give them as much support as I can, and have a laugh with them.

Because I like to think I'm just one of the lads - whether I am or not!

Shall we go, shall we start?

-Yes, I've started.

-You've started?!

He is obviously a prince, part of the royal family,

but he is also a squaddie. So, we're all squaddies here,

we've all got the same mentality, so hopefully we'll get along.

It's basically do whatever you want, so yeah!

It's important we do get to know each other a bit.

It's going to be quite intense living conditions, 10-12 hours skiing together,

and then living in the tents as well.

I think it makes it easier for someone from my position,

it's nice to be able to relate to them, and to be able to say that I've been there

and they know that I've experienced similar things to them, up until the injury itself.

It's nice to be able to sit down and have a bit of banter with them,

and that they've lost an arm or lost a leg.

It is very interesting having this time to talk to the guys.

Despite knowing their backgrounds and their stories, there's so much more to it.

And that is fascinating, it's actually quite sad in a way as well.

With nine weeks until they depart

and Prince Harry on an army helicopter course,

the rest of the team come to Norway for their final winter training.

The cold is tough enough for an able-bodied person,

but for these wounded soldiers, it's another level of risk.

The constant strain will push their delicate injuries to the limit.

It's their last chance to see how they cope in the extremes.

As they set off in the morning, it's minus 28.

They still have a few important lessons to master,

like skiing downhill with 60 kilos of kit chasing after you.

Nearly! Ha-ha-ha!

I want to see Dags come down this.

Shit!

Luckily, the North Pole is flat.

One of the most important skills is managing body temperature in the extreme environment.

If you get too hot, you sweat, making your clothes wet.

That freezes, ruining their thermal properties.

Equally, if you're too cold, you can get hypothermia or frostbite.

I'm just putting on some thermals,

because I've got a slightly cold John Thomas at the moment, if I'm honest.

The old chap's getting a bit chilly, and I daren't lose a bit.

Steve's back is also starting to hurt.

Just starting to feel it now, starting to ache now.

So, just trying to stay on top of it,

use the opportunity to have my stretch-off.

Not on the painkillers yet, still early days.

Going to try and get through today without any painkillers, see how I am tomorrow.

The guys push on, skiing for the next eight hours.

At the end of the day, they've learnt a lot, but at a cost.

Steve is in pain.

I got through till about half one this afternoon,

and then I took some painkillers, But it was all right after that.

And what's left of Jaco's arm is worrying him.

The arm was getting very cold in the last two hours.

Once it goes cold, it takes a little bit of a while to warm it up.

I feel I need to help, or to do something,

but sometimes I just get in the way.

It's a bit frustrating not being able to help.

I'm just helping Jaco with his boot off.

He's perfectly capable of doing it himself, but it just saves a little bit of time.

Double knots, Jaco, absolute no-no.

As charity founders, Ed and Simon are responsible for the welfare of the team.

There is an issue with Jaco's arm, in that we couldn't get it warm.

So we need to find a way to pack Jaco's arm with heat

that can last a month.

Ultimately, it's their decision who goes to the pole.

Steve's my worry. Steve's back is my worry.

Because I've got to be honest, I don't know how to solve it at the moment.

For Steve and Jaco, it's been a worrying start,

and there are still five more days to go.

As they get into a routine, there's time to enjoy the scenery,

especially for South African Jaco.

Amazing to think that we're on a frozen lake now.

Back home, I would never even see something like this, it's unreal.

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Actually walking on water.

Breathtaking.

Today's been absolutely incredible, stunning.

We haven't seen another person full stop since we started.

With good weather, the team move on well.

But as at the pole, the weather can change dramatically and dangerously.

I'd rather be anywhere but here!

The wind's howling.

It is very beautiful,

but truth be known, it's quite hard.

The team ski into a 35mph wind for the rest of the day...

..only pitching camp as the weather finally calms, just before sunset.

Jaco is concerned about his role on the expedition.

It's only now that I realise how difficult it is

to do stuff with one hand.

I'm just frustrated, basically.

I'm keen to help, I want to help,

I want to do...my part of the deal.

Sorry, it's just getting to me a bit.

While I'm pulling, all I can think about is

what can I do, you know, to make it worthwhile that I'm in the team,

to carry my weight, to show that I'm here for a reason.

I really do hope the other boys see it as well,

and they can see that I'm really putting in 110%.

Overnight, the bad weather has returned, but worse.

In these conditions, the only shelter is your tent.

Without it, it's game over.

While the storm rages on, all they can do is wait it out.

-Do I live at the North Pole?

-Nope.

Playing games...

I'm in the movies,

and I'm surprisingly not good-looking.

Watching kit dry...

We could do a bit of rotation.

-Anything to pass the time.

-Am I the Hulk?

Yes!

Oh, yes!

Oh, no, the South African one!

The next morning, the weather's cleared.

It's all hands on deck to dig themselves out

and get ready to start skiing again.

I'm having difficulty, Dags, I've only got the use of one arm.

It's taken me quite a long time to put your jacket inside your pulk, but hang on a minute...

-Mind over matter!

-OK, yeah, we're getting there.

But the mood in camps soon changes

when Steve's fragile back takes a turn for the worse.

Go on, keep doing it.

As Steve's tent buddy, it's Jaco's job to help

when his spine locks up and goes into spasm.

So that's my vertebra there...

If you can't find the gap between the vertebrae, put the palm of your hand on there and press down.

I've always had Steve as our top risk, because he's the one you can't see.

Is that better?

-Keep going...

-I think he's in a great deal of pain.

Up about an inch, yeah?

We know they're never going to say "Stop",

and so we have to do the saying of the stop.

And he'll start thinking that it's the end of it for him.

I'm sure it's not, but his back is far, far, far more important.

You can't do this hard enough, mate, the harder you do it, the better.

If there's doubt, then we will have to say no.

Steve takes time to rest his back and allow his painkillers to kick in.

Half an hour later, he emerges.

-All right, Steve.

-Boys.

Still a bit sore, mate.

I think I'm going to have to take it easy today.

Feel a bit jacked really, standing here watching the boys do all the work.

But I suppose that's just part of being of in a team.

The team set off again, with Jaco pulling Steve's pulk

for a couple of hours to give his back a rest.

It took a long time, a good couple of hours,

after stretching, taking painkillers, to come round a bit.

I've had to swallow my pride and let Jaco pull my pulk for a few hours.

'He took a couple of painkillers, he took a couple of hours off,

'skiing without pulling his pulk,

'and then he pulled the pulk for the rest of the day, on our longest day.'

'Steve's back is the one I just don't know about.'

Being injured, it shuts quite a lot of doors, but it opens up just as many.

And this door has opened up, and I'm really glad it did.

It brings back a feeling of being able to do something again.

Taking wounded soldiers on the first unsupported expedition

to the North Pole will be tough enough,

but the guys have shown what can be achieved

with determination and teamwork.

We step onto the ice two months today.

I've always thought we are going to do it - I wouldn't be

standing here if I thought it wasn't doable -

but I know it's going to be very, very hard.

But I've got much more confidence now that we are going to succeed.

If it was all about willpower, we would cruise this,

but it's a bit more than that, and that's the jeopardy in it, really.

I suppose that's the excitement, and that's why no-one's done it.

Initially when you come back injured, you think life's probably not that great.

For us, we're doing something we'd have probably never dreamed of doing

when we were lying in our beds in Camp Bastion after having bits chopped off us.

MUSIC: "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran

Back in the UK, and with just a few weeks left

until they depart for the ice, the team's adventure

has caught the imagination of both the public...

You keep them on, I'll get one with the jacket on...

And the world's press.

My phone hasn't stopped, all the lads saying, "Just saw you on the telly, heard you on the radio."

The boys are swept up in a media whirlwind of photo shoots...

Can everyone look this way, please?

..TV appearances...

Filled in the forms...

..visits to meet the Prime Minister at Number 10...

How are you...?

..and a celebrity fund-raising ball.

# They tried to break us

# Looks like they'll try again

# Wild boys

# Never close your eyes

# Wild boys always... #

APPLAUSE

Just over 12 months after launching themselves on the world,

the team arrive in Svalbard,

an island deep within the Arctic Circle.

It's the start of the final phase of their expedition to the North Pole.

Prince Harry will be joining them soon,

after he's finished the next stage of his helicopter training.

-It's a bit colder.

-It will be a little bit colder!

In five days, they're due to land on the polar ice cap for the very first time.

The team are staying in Longyearbyen,

an old coal-mining town

that for a brief period every spring is a hub for polar expeditions.

In a local warehouse, they start prepping their kit, their freeze-dried food

and everything they will need to survive on the ice cap for the planned three-week trip.

You've got to force yourself to eat. Especially when you're tired,

it becomes a significant chore,

and you've got to just force yourself to get it down you.

Every day the team will need to consume at least 6,500 calories just to fuel their bodies.

That's almost three times the normal requirement.

Hang on - why do you want 50 breakfasts?

Sorry, 25 breakfasts, 50 main meals.

-OK. That's more like it, I get it now.

-Happy with that, yeah.

It's going crazy! HE LAUGHS

You're either going to starve or arrive at the Pole about 90 stone!

With Prince Harry's arrival...

How are you doing, mate?

..the team is complete.

Very good to see you.

'My father knew I was coming out, and so did my brother,

'but I kind of kept it quiet.'

My grandparents and the rest of my family probably just found out

and probably think I'm completely mad - it's probably right.

My father was nervous because of my lack of training and quite rightly so.

He's got a lot of friends who've done this.

Professional opinions no doubt would've advised him, saying, "Do not let your son go."

But hopefully when I get back,

my father will be pleased.

Harry plans to be with the guys for five days -

two preparing and three on the ice.

They head off on a 20-mile training ski -

their first together as a full team.

HE LAUGHS Woo-hoo!

LAUGHTER

First day with the team - fantastic, great experience.

Probably a little bit harder than originally thought.

It's really interesting just to see the guys,

the amount of training they've been doing -

it's just so slick, and just runs off their feet.

The guy with one leg as well, it's fantastic to watch them.

They've been at the front of the pack the whole time, me and the old boys have been stuck at the back.

Climbing, that's where it really becomes difficult with having one arm.

You haven't got the weight or the balance of both arms to pull you up.

So for quite a steep bit, I had to go sideways,

which is really hard work on the legs.

'I'm only around for five days, which is nothing compared to those guys, doing four weeks.

'Generally, I have no idea what to expect. The unknown is slightly scary.'

Coming up there, when the wind picked up, you start feeling hot spots on your face and your neck,

but hopefully everybody will look out for each other, and frostbite and such things won't happen.

'He's fitted in with the boys, really when he walked through the door.'

He is one of them, he's a soldier just like them. It's been great,

it's given the team a bit of a lift. We spend all our time with one another and we get on very well,

but to bring someone else into the team has been great.

LAUGHTER

'With any bunch of guys, it would probably be a pretty exhausting trip,

'but with these guys, it's once-in-a-lifetime.

'For me, I couldn't say no.'

LAUGHTER

There's been a party mood all day,

a good sign for the team's departure, the day after tomorrow.

Back in their hotel, Martin's still full of beans.

Stop it!

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

Doin' a dance for you, Maximus.

Hey, do one, this is private!

LAUGHTER

But Harry's feeling less energetic after seven hours on skis.

The first bit of it was actually quite fun.

Yeah, it started all right.

Afterwards, the second bit of it was, erm,

was a bit of a nightmare, actually.

Hard work. Those boys - they're doing seriously well.

I know they had a lot of training, but that still doesn't excuse

the fact that they went up that hill at mach 10, and left us all behind.

So yeah, it was fairly embarrassing.

My whole body's a bit sore, to be honest.

Thank God the North Pole's flat.

Jaco struggled in the cold.

I just stood about 20 minutes in the shower to try and warm it up and get some feeling back into it.

It got really, really painful.

But it's Steve who has suffered the most.

Right, I'll lift a little bit, try to relax.

He's called in a physiotherapist to try to sort him out.

'The last about half hour before we got back, it was quite steep and I went over on the skis.'

I landed quite heavily on my back, and it was really painful.

-That's a nice stretch, I like that.

-Yes?

-Yep.

That feels good.

New man, thank you very much, mate.

Cheers. I'm going to definitely have to take it easy now.

Fingers crossed it will be OK for Friday.

The next morning, the guys are in their room sorting kit.

Tomorrow, they're due to depart for the ice.

-OK, cool.

-Have you seen Dags about?

-Er, yes, I thought they went out to go and get bungee.

-OK, brilliant.

Harry's playing catch-up organising his rations.

Some of it's better than army rations, some of it isn't.

Choc chip dessert is, that can go there.

What d'you reckon that says, lamb...mullade?

-Lamb mullen?

-It's like a cross between lamb and duck.

Whatever it is, it's going to get eaten.

Are you starting to get to know the guys a little bit?

Yeah, I am actually. On that first day, that little ski trip we did,

had a chance to spend some time with each of them.

That's very good, by the way.

Had it this morning, it's really nice. Doesn't look nice.

Definitely looking forward to it, actually. Just trying to work out

whether I'll be glad to get off the ice or not.

Hopefully I won't be glad,

hopefully I'll miss them and hopefully I'll want to stay.

Because then that means it hasn't been too hard, it means they'll make it.

Sunshine cereal with raspberry...

That will cheer my day up.

Is this very different for you, you know,

I say getting away from the limelight, but...

being able to go off and do something on your own?

Do you mean without policemen and security and so on? Yeah, I know,

I am looking forward to that.

I think this takes it to the extreme. I could have just gone for a walk at home, couldn't I, really?

It will be nice to be just with these guys.

It's going to be five army lads, and then two old blokes and a couple of guides,

and then you two.

It's quite a strange bunch, to be honest.

We'll all send each other mad!

1,2,3,4,5,6,7.

If I eat that much in five days, my body's going to be doing things that it's never done before.

With the main packing out of the way,

the team can concentrate on smaller, unfinished tasks...

-HARRY LAUGHS

-That guy's pretty...

..like customising their kit for the North Pole.

Oh, yes!

I'm about to make a Household Division standard. How am I going to do this?

Both Prince Harry and Sergeant Steve Young are part of the Household Division,

whose colours are blue, red, blue.

Harry wants to make a regimental flash for his polar jacket.

This is the only problem with being part of the Household Division.

If you want to do this, you have to do it properly.

If I don't, old Stevie boy next door is going to go, "No you can't wear that."

I can't... I...

HE LAUGHS

But the third in line to the throne isn't experienced with a needle and thread.

Oh-la!

Don't zoom in.

Don't! I can see your fingers working.

LAUGHTER

I bet you can't see the green string.

-That's pathetic.

-Don't rip it!

-That is pathetic.

-Please don't!

-If it was one of my blokes...

-Does it take you long to sew, though?

About five minutes, probably.

Five minutes? I knew there was a reason you were on the trip.

What, for sewing?

It's great to feel you're needed, honest to God, it is.

It's great to feel part of the team.

'Prince Harry is obviously an officer.'

Obviously, an officer. But I suppose it's not expected for officers to be very good at sewing!

Proofs in the pudding - it was a good effort, but I'll do it for him, no problem, yeah.

I can hear you in the corridor!

As the day wears on, thoughts turn to friends and family at home.

Jaco's showing Harry some family pictures.

-Who's that?

-That was my girl at the time.

-So that's your...

-Sister.

My mother.

-Millennium Stadium...

-And you guys probably won.

It's a little photo album my sister made for me as a surprise just before we came out.

That's Greenwich Park.

If I keep going through here, there's going to be like a different girl with you every time.

Unfortunately not, no!

That's my ex-girlfriend.

She's still in South Africa.

It was kind of hard keeping a relationship going.

It's heartbreaking. I still love her to bits.

-Oh! That's a tiny little nipper!

-Yeah.

It's unbelievable, the circle,

the amount of people that gets affected by just your injuries.

Friends and family.

I couldn't even walk, couldn't even wash myself.

They supported me, they helped me to be where I am today,

so I'm taking them to the Pole with me to show them a good time!

Tomorrow, the team depart for the ice.

It's their last chance to enjoy a proper meal.

OK, video diary, erm, Harry Wales...

Can't wait to get on the ice with these guys.

Just get to spend some time with them in a very special place.

So, I can't wait to see it, and then I'll be very sad to leave them.

They're not just doing it for themselves, they're doing it for all their mates

and their comrades and everybody else in the British Forces,

who, you know, have given the ultimate sacrifice.

I hope everything goes according to plan, and they get to the end,

and there's tears and hugs and all that sort of stuff.

So, good on them. Good luck, guys, really good luck.

It's very hard to be serious with you, because you're always laughing,

but I mean it from the bottom of my heart -

best of luck.

Signing off. If I can find the right button.

The next morning, there's a nasty surprise.

Overnight, an Arctic storm has blown in and the team's departure is delayed.

The jet meant to fly them to Barneo, the Russian ice station, is grounded.

Their goal of reaching the North Pole has just become even harder.

'We've got no room for error.'

It means that if our pace slows for one reason or another,

we really risk not completing the expedition on time.

'There's already been talk about doing some good long days, 30-36 hours,

'which we may have to do'

-as part of it.

-I think we're going to be forced to.

From a personal opinion, yeah, a bit gutted,

but mainly for those guys, not being able to get out there and get the job done.

That's all I really care about, to be honest.

For four days, all they can do is kill time.

Yeah, we'll do that tonight.

That's all right, we suddenly thought that was a bad idea.

On the back of my diary, I've got all the dates, how long we're here.

I've crossed off a heck of a lot! We haven't taken one step yet!

And then...

Good news or bad news? Bad news?

-Yep.

-It's minus 42 out there.

-Nice, nice.

-Good news?

-Yep.

-Finally...

-green light.

-Get it on, get it on!

We're taking the pulks out tonight at six, and then we will fly tomorrow afternoon.

Finally going!

That's good news, that's what that is. Let's get going.

Good news.

Is that good dancing or bad dancing?

Erm, we're going tomorrow.

-What's tomorrow, Sunday?

-Yeah.

-Cool.

-Is that coming?

-Yeah.

-HE LAUGHS

That is coming? That's coming?!

After 13 months of planning, preparation and training, the team are on their way.

Walls don't move with you!

THEY LAUGH

'It's unbelievable really, that I've been given this opportunity to do it.

'Stevie, from the Rhondda Valley, it's unheard of.

'I think this is like, sort of, the end of a two-year part of my life.

'It's taken a massive chunk out of my life, this injury.

'It's like, sort of, an end goal,

'me going to the North Pole.

'Before I went to Afghan, I had several major fears - one, to lose a bloke, and that happened.

'It's something that'll be with me until the day I die.

'Two, I didn't want anyone to die in our regiment - we lost six guys.

'Three, quite selfishly, I didn't want to get injured myself,

'I didn't want to lose legs - and that happened.

'It's a fault of the young - you feel completely immortal until you have a bit of a knock.

'It's going to be hard, it's going to be difficult.

'All you can do is train, seek advice from those that have done it.

'And then prepare yourselves as best you can -

'in our case, adapt and improvise to accommodate our injuries.

'I think we've done that.

'Life isn't easy.

'It takes me always a couple of minutes extra to do something now.

'And then when you're on your own, you need a bit of help, but there's no-one to help you.

'There is days when I'm angry and fed up, yes.

'You just need to put your pride away,

'you just need to let someone help you.

'I think it's great, I think it's going to be life-changing, to be honest.

-HARRY:

-'My only concern is the mentality within the British Forces

'is, if you're feeling yourself becoming man down,

'then you don't say anything, cos you're so mentally willing to be at the front.

'You will eventually just drop.

'But obviously in these environments, you can't do that, you have to be honest with yourself.

'Gone are the days of trying to be Mr Tough Guy - if you have a problem, a niggle,

'you talk about it and you share the pain, because otherwise you're never going to survive,

'simple as that.'

Four wounded British soldiers,

two expedition founders,

one polar guide,

one prince,

and one polar ice cap.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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