Afghanistan war veteran Cayle Royce, who has just begun a 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing challenge, has been given a royal send off – by fellow soldier Prince Harry.

The prince, who is currently in the Antarctic taking part in Walking with the Wounded expedition, telephoned Cayle and his Row2Recovery charity team as they prepared to launch their sponsored row from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

The prince joked with the crew about the difference in temperatures between the Canaries and the Antarctic. He wished them luck and told them jokingly that their 3,000 row would probably be a lot 'easier' than his 300 kilometres trek across the ice cap.

The telephone chat was filmed at both ends of the conversation and you can watch the video on the Chronicle's website.

Cayle, who lives in Dartmouth, said: 'We knew the call was coming. It was very good of him to wish us all luck.

'There was a bit of banter between the two crews. It was very decent of him.'

Cayle, who lost both his legs and suffered other major injuries in a Taliban bomb explosion 18 months ago is, part of a four-man team making the row to raise money for the Help the Heroes charity,

He joined Cpl Scott Blaney of the Grenadier Guards who also lost a leg in Afghanistan, Cpt Mark Jenkins a physiotherapy officer with the Royal Army Medical Corps and team leader Cpt James Kyall who served with Cayle in the Light Dragoons, as they set out to cross the Atlantic on Wednesday this week.

The start was delayed because of the weather conditions in the Atlantic which saw the Canaries hit by torrential rain, but Cayle was expecting big seas as the team set out.

'The weather is great today,' he said just before the team set out. 'We are expecting some very rough conditions as we head south. It's going to be a rough baptism of fire for the crews.'

Cayle is taking park in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge with 15 teams from all over the world.