Prince Harry for Afghanistan in October?
A secret deal is being negotiated between Clarence House and the Ministry of Defence that will allow Prince Harry to operate in a war zone without endangering his, or his men’s, lives.
Harry’s Private Secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former member of the SAS, has suggested to the top brass that Harry should be able to serve as a watchkeeper, a liaising role out of the main line of fire and requiring computer and logistical skills. His job would entail monitoring communications between base camp and the front line.
It’s thought Afghanistan is the most likely posting for him as British troops are doing relatively well in Helmand Province, despite a massive Taliban presence. Senior sources in the Blues and Royals believe he could be sent to Kabul or Kandahar, where other NATO forces are fairly thick on the ground.
Both Clarence House and the MoD state that no decision has yet been taken on Harry’s deployment.
Can the commanders in the field guarantee Prince Harry’s safety in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is running rampant and detonating everything in sight? I certainly hope that the person who is brokering this deal knows the consequences of what he is doing. If anything happens to Prince William, Prince Harry will be the heir to the throne after Charles. It would be helpful, then, if he remained safe and alive.
By Gigi on January 22nd, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I think it’s safer in Afghanistan than Iraq, despite the fierce fighting in Hellman. Kabul is relatively quiet, and a desk-type liaison job should keep him out of harm’s way.
Iraq, however, is a minefield in more ways than one. A British base there was mortared over the weekend leading to six casualties.
By John on January 22nd, 2007 at 3:18 pm
John, if Chelsy Davy is going to relocate to the UK to go to grad school (and was looking for flats recently with Kate showing her around) why is she returning to South Africa after spending 10 days with Prince Harry? Why is she not remaining in the UK? (I am getting confused.)
By Gigi on January 22nd, 2007 at 7:37 pm
She’s probably not starting at Bristol for a while.
By John on January 22nd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Well that is highly inconvenient, because I was counting on her being in the UK on a permanent basis!
South Africa is soooo far away.
By Gigi on January 22nd, 2007 at 8:13 pm
A little off the deployment topic…but why is it ok to use an abundance of paparazzi photos of Harry and Chelsy when there is this huge stink about Kate’s privacy? Shouldn’t Chelsy be afforded the same courtesy while in Britain? It seems to certainly set a double standard for all those newspapers who climbed on their high and mighty horse about boycotting pap. pictures of Kate! Just my opinion…
By Elizabeth on January 22nd, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I agree with you. Neither girl should be harrassed, both should be afforded all the protection the Government and the Palace can muster.
By Gigi on January 22nd, 2007 at 9:08 pm
How are these stories about where Harry maybe deployed and what job he may be given is getting into the press? It should not matter if it is Iraq or Afghanistan he would be a trophy to the Taliban just as well. Harry’s whereabouts should be kept confidential from now and until he has finished any deployment to keep him and his unit safe and alive.
By Trudie on January 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I agree. I have seen these stories in two of the many online newspapers I read. Where are they getting this information and why in the world do they think it is in the best interest of the country to print this information?
By Gigi on January 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
its not safe foor anyone… because if he goes then william will insist he wants to go as well…
By Ziny on January 22nd, 2007 at 11:52 pm
No, as second in line to the throne, William is not allowed to be deployed to a war zone. I’m sure he knew that when he embarked on his military career. He can make important contributions to the military effort in other ways.
By Evelyn on January 23rd, 2007 at 1:39 am
The stories are coming from Defence Correspondents, not the usual Royal ones, so this info is coming out of the Ministry of Defence not Clarence House. Clearly the politicians don’t want us to think they’re throwing Harry into the deep end.
In fact it would be almost impossible to keep his deployment secret. Just one soldier sending a phone photo by email to his girlfriend in Britain would be enough to blow the story to the press.
By John on January 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 am
^ … which is exactly why harry should not go!
By s.s. on January 23rd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I can’t help help feeling that this deployment is a serious mistake. If, God forbid, something happens to Prince Harry, the recriminations will be neverending. Why in Heaven’s name has the Queen agreed to this?
By Gigi on January 23rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
It’s not yet been decided, Gigi. We’re now hearing that the Sherwood Foresters are going to Afghanistan in March to replace the Royal Marines. No mention yet of the Blues and Royals.
By John on January 23rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I am praying that Prince Harry never goes to a forward area or a military hot spot at all. The PR coup simply is not worth the risk of Prince Harrt’s valuable life being lost. Let us hope that cooler heads prevail here. There must be someone in the government who remembers the Duke of Kent dying in WWII and he was not even high in the line of succession!
By Gigi on January 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Oh good grief, of course I meant to type “Prince Harry!” My typos will be the end of us all.
By Gigi on January 23rd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
[...] guess is that it’s picking up on a story, reported on Royal Anecdotes, that Harry’s Private Secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, has been negotiating with the [...]
By Royal Anecdotes - Royal Secrets » Prince Harry May Yet Go to Iraq on February 17th, 2007 at 11:51 am