Options range from the highly prized chicken tikka masala with a separate bag of rice, or breakfast sausage, egg and beans, to the universally-derided corned beef hash.

Harry also criticised the postal system for troops in Afghanistan as “pants” and told how he finally received a Christmas card from his father, Prince Charles, in February.

Among letters he did receive was one from his brother William telling him that their mother, Princess Diana, would have been proud of him serving his country.

While troops operating from large bases such as Camp Bastion have access to email and the internet, it is those in more remote postings who feel the shortcomings of the postal service most keenly, he said.

He added that a common complaint from soldiers at his position was: “We know we’ve got post back there; why can’t they get it out here?”

He said: “I’m sure there are reasons behind it but it is something that needs to be worked on.

“No doubt I’ll be asked numerous times and it’s the one thing I’ll bring up – the change in the guys’ attitudes, their facial expressions and just their general morale when post rocks up.”

He added: “I got a Christmas card from my dad two weeks ago, and I was a bit miffed. But listening to the guys that’s the least of the worries, they’re getting very late post.”