MoD Denies Prince Harry Bound for Iraq
Despite rumours, which are said to have originated with Chelsy Davy, the British Ministry of Defence has denied that Prince Harry will be deployed to Iraq in the spring with his regiment, the Blues and Royals.
The official line is “no decision has yet been taken”. Chelsy may have got the wrong end of the stick from a text or a phone conversation from an over-eager Prince Harry.
British forces were due to wind down to a much smaller presence in the next six months, so it’s possible that the regiment will not be sent at all.
The only fly in the ointment is that if President Bush decides on one last push, with more American troops being sent, it would be difficult to bring British troops home in that climate.
The situation is very fluid at present, and it’s likely that even the MoD doesn’t know what the state of its forces in Iraq will be by May.
Update: We’re now hearing that Prince Harry will be officially informed of any decision to send the Blues and Royals to Iraq, and whether he will go with them, on his return from Mozambique on January 5.
John despite not knowing what is going to happen within the next six months, I think it was totally wrong and inappropriate for The Sun to print supposed comments made by Chelsy. If Harry is deployed to Iraq why does the world need to know? Why not print the name of every soldier due to deploy so the terrorists can target or kidnap those with royal or aristocratic links to be used for bargaining chips? The Media can argue all they want that it is in the public interest but putting a soldier at further risk of harm is not in the public interest. Harry is an army officer and his military life should in the interest of Harry and his regiment should be off limits to the press.
By Trudie on December 28th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Trudie, that headline alone may have sealed Harry’s fate. Even if his regiment is sent in May, the thought of those headlines about Harry will have sent shivers down the spines of the top brass at the MoD. I would be amazed if Harry went to Iraq now.
By John on December 28th, 2006 at 11:21 am
John, thank you for posting on this situation. Trudie, your comments are very insightful, and, I believe, very accurate. The paper who broke that story has managed to put Prince Harry and his regiment in the center of harm’s way if he is indeed deployed, all to capture a headline. The media’s claim that the people have a right to know does not trump the right of the military to safeguard it’s forces and it’s strategy.
By Gigi on December 28th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
John lets hope for Harry’s and his regiments sake there will be no further media stories to endanger more lives. Also it would not matter where Harry is sent he is in the military and with the Sun pinpointing his locations All of the regiment are in danger of terrorist bombings or worse just thinking Harry might be there.
By Trudie on December 28th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
If anyone knows how wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill kept the media from revealing life-threatening state secrets regarding military deployment during WWII, will that person please call the current Pirme Minister and suggest that he do the same?
By Gigi on December 28th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
I don’t think he will ever go now…
By Ziny on December 28th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
He’ll know after January 5 when he gets back from Mozambique.
By John on December 29th, 2006 at 11:32 am
i agree trudie, gigi & ziny – he will not be going. i firmly believe that its for the best. even if it hadn’t leaked out this soon, the press would have leaked it out eventually. and when they did, the lives of harry’s comrades would be in danger. i certainly feel for harry, espescially since watching an interview he did in which he claimed that he ‘wouldn’t sit on his arse while his friends were out fighting’ … however, i feel that it was a naïve comment then and now. as a prince, harry shouldve realized that it would be selfish for him to go. i hope that he comes to understand this…
By s.s on December 30th, 2006 at 1:50 am
Well said, S.S. One of the drawbacks to being high in the Royal line of accession is that there are certain lines one cannot cross, for the good of the country. Both Prince William and Prince Harry have a primary duty to prepare to reign or to support the throne, as Fate dictates. This includes being kept out of harm’s way and while this is unpalatable to both Royal Princes, it must be. Both young men must come to realize that what is best for Britain is that in the fullness of time, a healthy, trained Prince William is able to mount the throne and reign as King William III. If that cannot be, then Prince Harry must be prepared and able to mount the throne and reign as King Henry IX.
By Gigi on December 31st, 2006 at 8:02 pm
exactly gigi!… i’m glad that we agree!
By Jane on December 31st, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Gigi,
If William ascends the throne using his own name (I’ve read that Charles plans to be King George VII), then he’ll be King William V.
By Christine G on December 31st, 2006 at 8:24 pm
You are right, Christine G! Thanks! At the time I posted, I could only recall William the Conqueror and William Rufus. but King William IV reigned prior to Queen Victoria (her uncle), Prince William will be King William the V unless he chooses another name. I had not heard that Charles plans to be King George VII, but that would be better than to use the name Charles, which has unfortunate memories attached to it. I am still hoping that Charles does not reign at all, but that is neither here nor there.
By Gigi on December 31st, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Late into this conversation… but I saw this posted at cnn.com
The article says is William is not allowed to serve in a war zone. It’s up to Harry’s unit commander to decide whether Harry would go with his unit, if his unit is send to Iraq.
By Evelyn on January 14th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Once again everyone, if you want to post long links, please convert them into short text links as I have with Evelyn’s above. Long links break the sidebar in WordPress sites.
By John on January 14th, 2007 at 12:19 pm