PRINCE HARRY HAS PAINFUL ENCOUNTER WITH POLE AFTER LEAVING NIGHTCLUB

PRINCE HARRY RECENTLY HAD A PAINFUL ENCOUNTER WITH A POLE AS HE LEFT HIS FAVORITE NIGHTCLUB. THERE'S NO DOUBT THE YOUNG PRINCE IS PROTECTED BY AN ELITE TEAM OF SECURITY PERSONNEL, BUT NOTHING COULD PREVENT HIM FROM HIS OWN STUPIDITY. THE FUN LOVING ROYAL HAD A SLIGHT MISHAP AS HE LEFT RAFFLES IN CHELSEA THIS WEEKEND. HARRY LEFT THE CLUB IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND RISKED DAMAGING THE 'CROWN JEWELS' AS HE WALKED BLINDLY INTO A METAL POLE WHILE HIS SECURITY TEAM ESCORTED HIM TO HIS WAITING CAR. HARRY'S NIGHT OUT COULD WELL BE ONE OF HIS LAST, AFTER RECEIVING A NEW PROMOTION IN THE ARMY. CLOSE FRIENDS TO THE PRINCE SAY HIS ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES COULD PROMPT THE SOMETIMES WAYWARD ROYAL TO CURB HIS HARD PARTYING LIFESTYLE AND CONSIDER SETTLING DOWN WITH HIS ON/OFF GIRLFRIEND OF FIVE YEARS. A SOURCE SAID: 'HARRY WILL BE MADE A CAPTAIN AROUND MAY, AND IT WILL BE A REAL TURNING POINT FOR HIM.' THE YOUNG ROYAL'S PROMOTION FROM LIEUTENANT IS IN LINE WITH THE LENGTH OF SERVICE RATHER THAN ON MERIT, ARMY SOURCES HAVE SAID. THE PRINCE ENTERED SANDHURST IN MAY 2005 AND NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO BECOME CAPTAIN AFTER SIX YEARS, 2011. BUT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN MEANS HIS PROMOTION WILL COME SLIGHTLY EARLY, TO FILL GAPS LEFT BY MEN IN HIS REGIMENT, THE BLUES AND ROYALS, WHO HAVE DEPLOYED TO THE FRONT LINE. HARRY IS LIKELY TO BECOME AN ACTING CAPTAIN IN MAY BEFORE BEING 'MADE UP' TO FULL CAPTAIN.