Phew, that's a load off my mind. The kid coulda got hurt!
5.30pm update
Prince Harry will not serve in Iraq
Peter Walker and agencies
Wednesday May 16, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Prince Harry will not be sent for military duty in Iraq because of the excessive risks this would cause for him and his comrades, the head of the army said today.
"I have decided that Prince Harry will not deploy as a troop leader with his squadron," General Sir Richard Dannatt told reporters.
Sir Richard said he had travelled to Iraq in the past week and learned of "a number of specific threats - some reported and some not reported - which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual".
He continued: "These threats expose not only him, but also those around him, to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable.
"Now that I have decided that he will not be deploying with his troop, the risks faced by his battle group are no different to those faced by any other battle group or other of our servicemen in Iraq."
A "contributing factor" to the decision was the widespread media reporting of Harry's proposed deployment, he added, calling it "something that I wish to avoid in future".
Sir Richard, who took pains to praise the prince's "undoubted talent" as a troop leader, refused to say he would never be deployed on active service to a war zone in the future.
"I'm not ruling anything in, I'm not ruling anything out," he said.
The news comes only two weeks after Sir Richard said the 22-year-old prince would travel to Iraq with his Blues and Royals comrades.
The decision is likely to dismay Harry, who has made it plain he wants to see active service.
In an interview when he turned 21, Harry made his feelings plain, saying there was "no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country".
There were reports he had even threatened to quit the army if he were not allowed to serve abroad in a war zone.
However, Clarence House insisted tonight that while the prince was "very disappointed" he would not leave the military.
A statement said: "Prince Harry is very disappointed that he will not be able to go to Iraq with his troops on this deployment as he had hoped.
"He fully understands and accepts Gen Dannatt's difficult decision and remains committed to his army career. Prince Harry's thoughts are with his troop and the rest of the battle group in Iraq."
There has been widespread speculation that Harry's position might make him too attractive a target for insurgent groups, imperilling both himself and his comrades.
This speculation was heightened after 12 British personnel were killed by insurgents, or rogue Shia militia, in southern Iraq in April, the worst such month since the invasion of the country four years ago.
Only a fortnight ago, Sir Richard responded to the concerns by insisting the prince would be sent.
"I, as chief of the general staff, will take the decision and have taken the decision as to whether he should or should not deploy," he said in a statement
"And I do so as chief of the general staff and having full command of every member of the army including prince Harry. Second, the decision has been taken he will deploy."
However, Sir Richard did add at the time that he would "keep that decision continually under review".
Harry would have been the first member of the royal family in 25 years to serve in a war zone.
His uncle, Prince Andrew, served as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands. After that conflict, Andrew said his position in the navy would have been "untenable" if he had not seen action in the South Atlantic.
Harry began his army career at Sandhurst, where he spent 44 weeks training to be an officer. He then completed further training as a troop leader for the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry.
Think he should be made an honorary Yellow Elephant
Joined: 2007-04-17
Location: USA