PRINCE Harry hopes the "unbelievable achievement" of 12 injured service personnel reaching the most southern point of the globe will inspire others.

The prince was the official patron of the Virgin Money South Pole Allied Challenge 2013 and he joined his Team Glenfiddich teammates at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, to mark the official end to the gruelling expedition today (Tuesday).

Among those to complete the 200km trek across the frozen wastes in aid of the Walking With The Wounded charity was 35-year-old Major Kate Philp, from Knightwick, near Worcester.

Prince Harry said: "Inspiring others is one of the corner stones of this charity, to demonstrate to those who have experienced life-changing injuries that everything is possible.

"I hope this truly unbelievable achievement by everyone behind me, and back in America, Canada and Australia... will remind everybody that they can achieve anything that they want to.

"Our wounded, injured and sick do not want pity, they simply want to be treated the same way they were before they were injured - with respect and admiration."

The adventurers faced such extreme weather conditions that organisers had to call off the competitive element of the trek, meaning the UK team joined forces with their US and Commonwealth counterparts to reach the Antarctic goal together on Friday, December 13.