A former comrade of Prince Harry’s in Afghanistan is to be kicked out of the Army for failing a drugs test, the Daily Mail can reveal.
Corporal Frankie O’Leary, the royal’s former radio operator who also carried out ceremonial duties at his wedding, tested positive for cocaine, defence sources said.
The 32-year-old, of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment based at Hyde Park Barracks in London, was among four soldiers to fail drugs tests in the past few days.
They are all in the process of being kicked out and the incidents were not linked, the sources said.
Corporal Frankie O'Leary (left), who worked as a radio operator for Prince Harry (centre) in Afghanistan in 2007, will be kicked out of the Army after failing a drug test
It is understood that Cpl O’Leary was not in the barracks at the time he took the class-A drug.
A friend of Cpl O’Leary told the Mail: ‘He knows he has made a huge mistake and it has cost him the job he loved.
‘He just feels he has let down his family, friends and the regiment.’
An Army source said: ‘This has cost him his whole career, it’s a pretty harsh penalty. There aren’t many jobs where you would get sacked for recreational drugs use.’
Corporal of Horse O’Leary got to know Prince Harry as his radio operator in Afghanistan in 2007.
He also took part in the Household Cavalry escort for the carriage procession at Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle last year. He rode at the front of the carriage carrying the newlyweds around Windsor.
Speaking at the time, he recalled how they were stationed in Windsor together when Prince Harry played cupid by going out of his way to help him get together with his now wife.
He said in an interview last year: ‘He rather kindly helped me get in well with a young lady. He has seen me walking with the young lady, unbeknownst to me he was driving on his own, no security detail, just going for a spin like you do as an English prince.
