Prince Harry in MoD Review
With girlfriend, Chelsy Davy back in England to spend time with Prince Harry before his proposed mission to Iraq, discussions are hotting up on the wisdom of deploying the third in line to the Throne.
Following Royal Anecdotes’ call to pull Harry out of the six-month tour of duty, the Ministry of Defence has announced a review of the decision at the highest level.
Insurgents are said to be getting ready to target the Prince’s troop of 12 men in four Scimitar armoured vehicles. They made their presence felt last week by destroying a Scimitar in the south of Maysan Province where Harry will operate.
The militias have reportedly said they will cut off his ears if captured.
This morning the Ministry of Defence has told Sky News that operations “are under constant review, based on intelligence and information on the ground”. Harry, they say, is not being treated any differently from his colleagues. “It is still our intent that Prince Harry will be deployed as a troop leader”.
Speculation is now growing that he will be involved in relatively low-risk missions. In plain speech, he’ll be given a desk job at HQ.
“It is likely the Army will be very selective about the operations he will be sent on. Perhaps he will not go on as many combat patrols as his colleagues. His chiefs will be very careful about accusations of favouritism, but could use the excuse that on some occasions he would put his men at too much risk.”
A review by the Army’s top brass is unlikely to settle on the status quo. After the recent naval fiasco, if Harry is seen to be the same sort of sitting duck our Navy personnel were when captured by the Iranians, heads would roll, starting with the Secretary of State himself. The repercussions would go all the way up to Number 10.
Stand by for significant changes of definition for Harry’s mission in Iraq.
Royal Anecdotes’ advice remains the same. Don’t send him. You’ve all got too much to lose if Prince Harry loses his ears.
I always said that they read Royal Anecdotes but no one wanted to believe me!!!
The more time pass and the more I believe he was never going to fight in Irak, despite it seems he really want to serve and has made it clear it was his plan from the start.
And suddenly one month before they remember Harry is a target? Rubbish. Every soldier is a target. It is sad to hear that Blair has too much to lose if something happens to Harry rather to an average soldier.
By Lilyfromfrance on April 26th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Every soldier is a target yet Harry’s presence will make it more dangerous for his troops and if something were to happen to Harry there is too much to lose not just Harry but other soldiers under his command. I say don’t send him there is no such thing as secure intelligence.
By Trudie on April 26th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Lily From France and Trudie, I agree completely with both of you. I know that any change in the planned deployment will be a blow to Prince Harry, but he must see that other considerations must be given priority. The risk is simply too high, for both his safety and for the safety of his men. Further, Prince Harry may believe that, being the second son, he is ‘expendable’ but he is not. Prince William will need his brother’s support when he becomes King, and if, may God forbid, something should happen to Prince William, Prince Harry must be alive and able to mount the throne and reign if that becomes necessary. I must also say that I believe that the universal backlash that will result should Prince Harry be deployed to a forward area in a combat role, and perhaps be injured or worse, would be enormous and tremendously destructive for Britain and the Royal Family. For all our sakes, I hope that the person in the High Command who has the power to make the final decision, firmly and emphatically forbids the deployment.
By Gigi on April 26th, 2007 at 3:24 pm