Is Harry joining Hewitt regiment?

Prince Harry is considering joining the Life Guards.

It is the same Household Cavalry regiment as his mother's former lover James Hewitt.

Harry, 20, had been tipped to follow family tradition by joining the Welsh Guards after his officer training at Sandhurst. Instead he is now actively thinking about joining the Household Cavalry, the regiment Major James Hewitt served with distinction in the first Gulf War before he became known as the "Princess Diana love rat".

The Evening Standard has learned that before Harry left for a trip to Argentina he wrote to the Welsh Guards' senior officers turning down an offer of joining the regiment.

In the letter he is understood to have apologised for any embarrassment he might have

caused the regiment for his decision and outlined the reasons why he wants to join the Household Cavalry.

His father is Colonel of the Welsh Guards and his father Prince Philip also served them in the same role.

However, Harry is believed to have favoured the Household Cavalry because of his love of horses and playing polo. The Household Cavalry is best known for its ceremonial duties. But it also has armoured reconnaissance squadrons which recently returned from Iraq.

Harry will start his 44-week course at Sandhurst in January.