An Australian magazine has apologised for publishing a story revealing that Prince Harry was fighting with British troops in Afghanistan, eventually resulting in him being sent home.

New Idea said it was unaware of a media embargo about the Prince's mission when it ran the story in January. The report went largely unnoticed until February when the Drudge Report cited the magazine and a German publication with running the news.

The story was widely reported after the Drudge Report posting, and British officials decided to pull Harry out of Afghanistan for his safety and that of his unit.

In an unsigned item in its latest edition, New Idea did not explain the source of its January story and indicated that it did not check with British military officials before publishing.

"We did not knowingly breach any embargo and were not party to any agreement for a media blackout on the story," the magazine said.

"However, and more importantly, we do acknowledge that our actions in publishing the story can be reasonably viewed as insensitive and irresponsible... We regret this serious lapse of judgment."

The magazine apologised to its readers and to troops and their families who serve abroad.

Harry spent almost 10 weeks in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand Province, with his deployment kept secret by a deal between officials and British and media.

New Idea is a celebrity and lifestyle magazine with a monthly circulation of about 390,000 copies.