LONDON – Prince Harry is heading to the Arctic, showing his support for Britain’s wounded Afghanistan war veterans by joining part of their punishing expedition to the North Pole.

Harry travels to frigid northern Norway on Tuesday for three days of training and five days of trekking on a trip organized by the Walking With the Wounded charity.

The group includes four British soldiers who were seriously wounded while on active duty, including two amputees.

“What the Walking With The Wounded North Pole Team is undertaking is an enormous adventure of the most challenging order,” Harry said in a statement Friday.

The charity hopes to raise $3.2 million through donations and sponsorships for the expedition. Harry said he hopes the money “will make a life-changing difference to injured servicemen and women from our Armed Forces.”

The four wounded men will be joined by two expedition leaders and a Norwegian guide familiar with the region. The expedition is expected to take four weeks and cover roughly 200 miles of frozen Arctic Ocean territory by foot. The group will pull their own equipment in sleds in sub-zero temperatures.

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Harry plans to leave the group April 5 to resume his military training and to serve as the best man at his brother Prince William’s April 29 wedding.

Liz portrait on auction block

NEW YORK – An Andy Warhol portrait of Elizabeth Taylor is heading to a New York City auction. It’s estimated to bring $20 million.

The Wall Street Journal reported that “Liz #5” is owned by hedge-fund manager Steven Cohen. The 1963 silkscreen will be sold at Phillips de Pury at its contemporary art sale May 12.

The actress died Wednesday at age 79.

The portrait shows the screen siren smiling and her eyelids covered in blue eye shadow. It comes from Warhol’s 1960s series of pop culture icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.

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The Journal reported that Cohen bought the portrait for an undisclosed sum from the estate of a major New York dealer. He declined to comment.

The current Warhol auction record is $71.7 million for “Green Car Crash.”

Record labels join for Japan

NEW YORK – The four major record labels have joined together to produce an all-star digital album to raise money for disaster-stricken Japan.

“Songs for Japan” will feature Lady Gaga’s No. 1 hit “Born This Way,” John Lennon’s classic “Imagine” and dozens more songs from acts ranging from Adele to Eminem.

The compilation was announced Friday by Sony Entertainment Music, EMI Music and Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. It’s available on iTunes for $9.99. Proceeds from the 38-track set will go to the Japanese Red Cross Society. A physical two-disc CD will be available early next month.

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Oprah’s final episode will air May 25

CHICAGO – The final original episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will air May 25. Winfrey’s Chicago-based Harpo Productions confirmed the date Friday.

Winfrey announced live on the show in November 2009 that she would end its run after 25 years. She since has launched cable’s Oprah Winfrey Network.

“The Oprah Winfrey Show” has been in reruns for the last few weeks. But Winfrey tweeted Thursday that she was “hard at work planning the final shows” and new episodes will begin April 7.

 


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