Prince Harry was allowed to leave his Apache helicopter base on “urgent palace business” when it was put in lockdown for a random drugs test, it has been claimed. RAF Wittisham in Suffolk was reportedly secured by armed guards in May 2011 when the drug testers arrived unannounced.
But Harry – who has admitted to taking cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms in the past in his bombshell memoir – was given permission to leave for London as his comrades were ordered to give urine samples, The Sun reports.
Harry’s team reportedly said the royal, who had recently returned from Prince William and Kate’s wedding, had “urgent palace business”.
There is no suggestion that the Duke of Sussex deliberately avoided the test or took any drugs while in the Armed Forces.
Harry was with the 656 Squadron, 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at the time. He is thought to be the only one not tested on the base.
His former Squadron Sergeant Major Mark “Oz” Wilson, who was in charge of squadron discipline, said: “I couldn’t believe Harry was allowed to leave.”
An Army source said Harry’s departure “would have looked very strange to his comrades”.
But they added: “You can’t expect soldiers and sergeant majors to be aware of the diary pressures on the third in line to the throne.”
A Ministry of Defense Spokesperson said: “Every member of the Armed Forces is subject to compulsory drugs testing. We do not comment on individuals.”
