Prince Harry Will Know Tomorrow
The Press Assocation has just put out the following, confirming what we reported here at Royal Anecdotes this morning :
“Prince Harry’s regiment will learn on Thursday whether it is to be sent to Iraq in the latest round of troop deployments.
“Defence Secretary Des Browne will brief MPs on Thursday [tomorrow] on which military units will be sent to Iraq in April as part of a long-planned rotation of troops, said the Ministry of Defence.
“A spokesman refused to reveal which units were involved, or to indicate whether Harry’s regiment, the Blues and Royals, will be among those deployed.
“But speculation is rife that the Prince, who is third in line to the Throne, will become the first Royal to serve a tour of duty in a war-zone since his uncle, the Duke of York, flew helicopters in the Falklands conflict in 1982.
“Mr Browne’s announcement will come in a written statement to the House of Commons, said the MoD.”
Are these briefings in the House of Commons typically done in the morning or in the afternoon? I would like to know how long I need to hold my breath.
We are five hours behind you, I believe.
By Gigi on February 21st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
It will probably be at 12.30 GMT, Gigi. If you are in Dallas, I think you are probably 6 hours behind us.
The Political Editor of the BBC seems to think he’ll be going, but we must wait and see.
By John on February 21st, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I just hope and pray once the announcement is made that if Harry’s deployed to Iraq the media will not publish the where abouts of Harry or his Troop. If the Army is smart they will not have his name Wales on his uniform but an alias.
By Trudie on February 21st, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I think that will certainly happen, Trudie.
By John on February 21st, 2007 at 9:36 pm
By Gigi on February 21st, 2007 at 10:11 pm
as nice as all of your sentiments are, i really believe that the press will be all over this. if harry is going, we are going to know. when it’s decided where harry is going (specifics in iraq), we are going to know. a friend and i were talking about it a couple days ago, and we both agree that whatever happens, the media is going to give us all the juicy details. despite whatever ch, mod, etc. try to do about it…
By s.s. on February 21st, 2007 at 11:28 pm
i don;t think he is going to be deployed…
By Ziny on February 22nd, 2007 at 2:01 am
We are all wrong and the Political Editor for the BBC is right.
The Times Online says Prince Harry and his unit have received their orders and will deploy to Iraq in May. 
I am so depressed. 
By Gigi on February 22nd, 2007 at 3:06 am
Actually i was right.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 3:59 am
sigh - that really is too bad…
By s.s. on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:15 am
I think that we are all going to regret this tragic decision by the MoD more bitterly than we can imagine.
God forbid that anything dreadful happens to Prince Harry. Just thinking about all this makes me feel quite ill.
By Gigi on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:44 am
Yes, Shake, you were right.
By Gigi on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 am
Iam so proud of Harry.When iam nearly losing all my hope for him too,he always do something to change it.Like his mother before him,he came at odds with his father,and the Ch spinners and courtiers.He stayed faithfull to the people he trained with,and he proved them right on their words,by being a loyal soldier.I hope he is a force for good in Iraq,and i hope he learns there about humanity.WELLDONE HARRY.IAM SURE YOU MUM IS SO PROUD OF YOU.SHE FIRST WANTED HER SONS TO BE RELEVANT WITH THEIR PEOPLE.HARRYS ACT IS THE BIGGEST ACT OF RELEVANCY.IAM CONFIDED HE WILL COME BACK SAFE,AND WE ALL BE PROUD OF THIS GUY WITH THE GREAT HEART.AGAIN SECOND BORN STEPS INFRONT OF OLDER BROTHER.HARRY ACTS,WHILE WILLIAM ALWAYS STAYTS IN WORDS.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 5:00 am
Let us all pray that Prince Harry comes home safe and sound.
By Gigi on February 22nd, 2007 at 6:14 am
All people deserve our prays/I pray the war ends as soon as possible and all sons and daughters will come back to their families,and Iraq will finally find the power to become some kind of an independent state.At some point./
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 am
Just reminded from a friend working on a charity in Kabul,that Diana is very loved in Pakistan,Afganistan and Iraq,in general in muslim countries.They have her pics on their store walls and outside their houses,and British soldiers of the Princess of Wales regiment in there,have pics of her in their Aid Facility they have there.Iam not sure there will be many who will want to blow or kill Harry.Diana had made a huge impact in those countries.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 6:41 am
What fantastic news for you Shake… You must be so happy, now, Harry is going to look like a martyr.
By Lilyfromfrance on February 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 am
I don’t think Al Quaeda will have any sentiment about Diana, Shake. Harry will be a target from the word go as Andrew was made by the Argentinians. And the Shia death squads and Iranian infiltrators will all sense an opportunity to embrrass the British Government. These people are not armchair strategists.
By John on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:36 am
No one is safe John.Harry made his choice.Iam proud of him.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 am
And i doubt all these groups will want to be condemned worldwide by killing Dianas son.You see its another thing to be seen fighting the Us and Uk, goverments and super powers that many people around the wold dislike,and another thing to kill Harry whom his mother is still so much loved,and his life has been hit by so much tragedy,as the myth goes.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:18 am
Of course Shake. All these groups don’t care about being condemned for the World Trade Center or the bomb attacks in the bus in London last year, but they care for Prince Harry, because they are scared to kill the son of a so beloved woman.
By Lilyfromfrance on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 am
And i even believe, when Harry will be there, these groups will give him chocolates and sweets.
By Lilyfromfrance on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:49 am
We have had terrorist organisations John for 50 years here in Greece.One of them,the biggest,was killing people with rightwing origin,racists or Ex military officers who were involved in the Military Hounta.That group 17nth November was very popular.Cause it was using the sentiment that they were fighting against the people who tortured freedom fighters and those who killed thousands during cleasing periods in Greek modern history/They made a crucial mistake to Kill a right wing Mp who tried to bring the left and right wing together.He was a family man,and had great future.Public opinion who was with them for decades swifted in one hour,the moment it was known he was dead.They were caught some years ago.Their leader admitted it was the most serious mistake they did.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I hope Harry’s not reading this. He’ll need to be on his guard 24/7.
By John on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:26 am
Ah ah John. I think Harry is aware to be an easy target for them.
I hope Harry reads Gigi’s comments. He would be touched to read that somewhere in the world, a lady he doesn’t know is praying for his safety.
By Lilyfromfrance on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
Whether al Quaida, insurgents or plain old terrorists like all the other soldiers Harry is in extreme danger of roadside bombs. Diana may have been loved in these countries but the fact remains Harry is just another soldier and I pray that he and his regiment come back safely.
By Trudie on February 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pm
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk
Go Harry.The response on this is so great.It already have changed the perception about him.Yeah.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Shake are you psychic or somehow related to the Greek Royal family? your observations are spot on I am so glad you returned with your fabulous insights. I must say that Harry is definetly brave much in the mold of Prince Philip during WW2. Of the two Princes, Harry has shown much more character than his brother. Pray that he and his troop come back safely and for all the other troops as well.
By Trudie on February 22nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
You know, his mother would probably be more worried about her son than anything else (although I’m sure she would be proud of him - and not just about this). And there are OTHER ways of being relevant to the world than shipping off to Iraq. I think it’s a very brave thing to do - on Harry’s part - but it doesn’t really have anything to do with how his mother would feel about him were she still alive. I’m sure she’d be proud of him for other reasons and probably really worried about him about this - like any OTHER parent.
By Sarah on February 22nd, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I do not think that any of us should count too much on the enemy having feelings that would make them soften toward any soldier in battle. The climate, the terrain and the insurgents make Iraq a very perilous battleground. Men who have slaughtered and enslaved their own women and children cannot be expected to demonstrate human emotions or compassion. The decision to deploy the Prince has been made by the high command, and we must do all we can to support it. I feel that our best option in the days ahead is fervent prayer. I hope very much that hundreds of thousands of people across the globe will be praying for brave Prince Harry, supplicating God and the Saints for his safety and protection. We also have Princess Diana, who is in Heaven and who will help her son in any way she can. Remember the famous words “Pray for me. There is more good wrought by prayer than this world dreams of…” Britain, pray for your gallant Soldier Prince.
By Gigi on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Of course Sarah.I completely agree.But she knew how much he wanted to be a soldier and he has done it in a great way.There are other ways to be relevant,but i must say,if he wasnt going i was afraid,he would have been attacked by all the press,and even more if he was going out and drinked,while his regiment was in Iraq,he would have been crucified.I have a feeling he has Dianas Pr insticts.
By shake on February 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm