British Prince Harry, who once was photographed naked with Las Vegas women while playing strip poker, is considered a knight in shining armour by a gay British soldier.

Lance Corporal James Wharton disclosed on Monday that the royal once rescued him in 2008 from murder after he was threatened by six soldiers from another command because he was gay.

Since Prince Harry was his tank commander, he told the prince that he is gay and of the threat, which left a complete look of bewilderment from the face of the son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

In response, the prince told the gay soldier that he was "going to sort this s*** out once and for all."

Mr Wharton narrated that his commander climbed out of the tank and saw him approach and warn the other soldiers of the consequences of their action if they would harm the then 21-year-old gay soldier.

Mr Wharton was then training with Prince Harry in Canada. He left the army this year, but expressed his gratefulness to the royal for saving his life. However, following the media report of what happened, the bachelor prince is now being teased as a gay icon.

When ribbed by fellow soldiers for being a gay icon, the prince reportedly blamed it on having ginger hair.

The story of the gay soldier's rescue is contained in Mr Wharton's new book titled Out in the Army.

The book comes out just days after a retired US Navy SEALs member, Chris Beck, shared his journey from being a macho soldier to a woman in his memoir titled Warrior Princess.

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