Prince Harry was reunited yesterday with an injured serviceman with whom he travelled home from Afghanistan.

Marine Ben McBean, 21, lost an arm and a leg when a mine exploded during a patrol in Afghanistan. He was flown back to Britain for treatment at the same time as the Prince was forced to return when the media blackout on his deployment was breached.

The pair met again when Prince Harry and Prince William visited Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey, a clinic for military personnel. The Princes also spoke to Lance Sergeant Adam Ball, stationed with 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in Aldershot. He lost a leg when he stepped on a mine in Afghanistan and has spent six months at Headley Court.

“I’m happy that the princes have come today. It’s good that they show an interest in what we are doing and see how we are getting on,” Lance Sergeant Ball, 23, said. “With Harry having done it himself, he knows the ins and outs, and it’s more like banter, talking to an officer maybe, than talking to a royal.”

The centre was thrust into controversy last summer when local people tried to block the construction of an annexe to house the families of injured soldiers. It was claimed that their homes could lose value. After an outcry by the wives of injured soldiers, the plan was approved.

The princes are patrons of the City Salute Appeal, set up last month to celebrate and support the Armed Forces and their families. William said: “As brothers, we are delighted to be supporting the City of London in saluting all those who serve their country. It is also a chance to pay tribute to the casualty evacuation and medical staff of all three Services who protect and care for the wounded so brilliantly and with such tireless dedication.”

The singer Joss Stone has been invited by the princes to perform at a concert for the charity next month. She sang at the concert that marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The organisers hope that the public will gather in the City of London for a 45-minute ceremony to help to raise money to support Headley Court. The centre hopes to fund a new swimming pool and sports complex that will provide physiotherapy, and family accommodation for patients’ relatives.

Yesterday, officials defended the decision to allow William to land a Chinook helicopter in his girlfriend’s back garden . Little over a week before Kate Middleton watched the Prince receive his wings , he flew 16 miles from RAF Odiham in Hampshire and touched down in a field next to her house. In another unusual sortie, the Prince used a Chinook to fly to the stag party of his cousin Peter Phillips on the Isle of Wight, picking up Harry at Woolwich Barracks.

William had sought permission from police and Miss Middleton’s parents to land in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, there being a shortage of landing sites in Hampshire.

A Military of Defence spokesman said yesterday that it was “very much a routine training sortie that achieved essential training objectives”. However, officials have admitted privately that it was “not the best idea”, given concerns about military budget constraints and the shortage of Chinooks in Afghanistan.

A British soldier was killed yesterday in southern Afghanistan, the MoD said. The soldier, from The Queen’s Royal Lancers Regiment, was killed in a suspected minestrike on his vehicle. It was providing security to a supply convoy returning to Camp Bastion. A second soldier was injured. Next of kin have been informed.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sarto LeBlanc, of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, expressed its condolences, saying: “We have lost a valuable member of our team.”

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