Harry In Antarctica: Prince Begins Polar Trek

Prince Harry arrives in Antarctica today ahead of the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge.

After severe weather at the planet's southernmost point caused the 200 mile race to be delayed by 48 hours, all three teams taking part have now been given the green light.

Flying in from Cape Town later today, the British, US and Commonwealth teams will pitch their tents and begin the acclimatisation process.

"Annoyingly we've been delayed for a couple of days, so it's been a case of packing and repacking our kit," explained Prince Harry's British teammate Guy Disney.

"It's been good to spend some time together," added Disney, whose right leg was amputated below the knee after being hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Afghanistan in 2009.

"I think once we start racing it's going to be quite competitive and actually getting to know each other and understanding what everyone has gone through has been very important."

The teams will fly on to an air base near Russia's Novolazarevskaya Station, which is situated at the edge of the Antarctic continent.

The race will begin in earnest from a plateau a short flight away on Friday, November 30, with the winning team expected to reach the South Pole by mid-December.

Patron of the Allied Challenge, Prince Harry has joined the British team for training exercises ahead of the trek which could see temperatures plummet to as low as -50C.

The Apache helicopter pilot spent 24 hours inside a special cold chamber in the Midlands just weeks ago.

While Prince Harry has had a taste of what to expect having joined the teams ahead of their north pole challenge in 2011, this time, Harry intends to start and finish the physically and mentally demanding race.

"The larger objective is getting everybody to the pole," explained US team member Mark Wise, who sustained his injuries after a fellow serviceman stood on an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan in 2009.

"It's a race, but at the same point the first goal is making it to the pole. It's an endurance event physically, mentally and emotionally and so we're all focused on that effort and taking care of each other."

Above all the South Pole Allied Challenge hopes to raise money and to continue to inspire others, showing them anything is possible post-injury.